Imagine the horror of having boiling water poured over your body during the scorching heat of summer, when even ordinary tap water feels unbearable. This nightmare became a reality for two sisters in Rajasthan due to the sheer brutality of a policeman. The entire incident occurred simply because the convoy of the Chief Minister was scheduled to pass through that area. Policemen arrived at the scene and began shouting for the vendors to move their cart. The young women pleaded with folded hands, explaining that they were cooking food and the container held boiling water. They requested a moment to safely lower the vessel to prevent a tragic accident, but their desperate pleas fell on deaf ears.
Cruelty driven by VIP culture
Driven by the intensity of VIP security duties and an eagerness to prove their diligence to their superiors, the personnel on the scene completely ignored the sisters' distress. The policeman, without issuing any warning, shoved the cart with full force. As a result, the boiling water splashed directly onto the younger sister, Reshu. Her body, including her chest, abdomen, thighs, and arms, was severely scalded. She lay on the road in agony, screaming in pain, yet the police officers responsible for the VIP security showed no signs of remorse or concern.
Is being 'line hazir' really a punishment?
Once the brutality was captured on camera and caused a public outcry, the administration immediately rushed into damage control mode. Officials claimed that strict action was taken against the accused constable, Narendra, who was promptly transferred to the police lines, a process locally referred to as APO or 'line hazir'. While it might seem like a significant disciplinary action to the public, the reality is starkly different. In Rajasthan, being 'line hazir' simply means the officer is removed from active field duty and placed in the police lines. This is not a punishment but effectively a paid leave. The officer continues to receive their full salary, and once the public attention wanes, they will likely be quietly assigned to another lucrative posting at a different police station.
Why is the law not equal for everyone?
The question arises: is this the only consequence for physically assaulting and inflicting severe burns on innocent citizens? Consider the scenario if a regular civilian had committed the exact same act. If an ordinary person had deliberately pushed a food cart on the street, causing boiling water to fall on a girl, the police response would have been entirely different. The individual would have been dragged to the station, and charges of causing grievous hurt, using dangerous weapons or means to cause harm, and attempted culpable homicide would have been filed. They would have been imprisoned for months without bail, their lives ruined by the legal struggle.
Abuse of the uniform
Why is there such leniency shown toward this particular policeman? Has wearing a police uniform become a license to burn someone alive? Nowhere in the law does it state that during a VIP movement, if a poor person is in the way, they can be harmed with boiling water. This incident exposes the dark side of a system where VIP culture is treated as more important than the lives and safety of ordinary citizens.
