Crossing party lines, roughly thirty to thirty-five council members of the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation protested on Thursday, calling for the repeal of harsh Indian Penal Code provisions imposed on BJP council member Sudhir Kumar. Kumar was taken into custody on Monday for allegedly assaulting a couple selling tea, vandalizing their stall, stealing their valuables, and acting inappropriately toward the vendor’s wife late on Sunday night in the Mohan Nagar area.
The council members gathered at the district headquarters once more on Thursday. They have been protesting since Wednesday night, demanding that the police remove the severe IPC provisions from the FIR.
Based on the complaint that the vendor woman had filed with the Sahibabad police station, the councilman was taken into custody. According to the police, he was charged with rioting under IPC sections 147, 323, 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation), 392 (robbery), and 354 (molestation).
In addition to demanding “protection money,” the FIR said that the councilman had stolen the woman’s money and jewelry.
Aside from requesting “protection money,” the FIR claimed the councilman had embezzled the woman’s jewels and cash.
“We met with the ACP and DCP on Wednesday in the mayor’s presence, but we were unable to reach an agreement. After then, roughly 35 council members went to meet the commissioner of police (CP) at his Raj Nagar camp office. However, police officers stopped our car on Hapur Road and forbade us from continuing. We demonstrated there till 7:30 p.m. and then left. Council members were prevented from meeting with the CP on Thursday as well, according to Sheetal Deol, a BJP council member from Shibbanpura’s ward 9.
Mayor Sunita Dayal alleged a conspiracy against the councillor.
Senior police officers called the council member a “goonda” and a “anti-social element” when I spoke with them. The cops are not paying attention to us, and there are persons behind this. “I will apprise high-ranking party officials of the complete matter,” Dayal declared.
Additional commissioner of police Kalpna Saxena said she met with councillors on Thursday.
“We’ve told them that we’ll investigate their complaints. The investigation’s conclusion will be supported by facts and evidence. The spouse of the councillor under suspicion has filed a complaint, claiming that she was subjected to casteist insults. A rank officer in the DCP will investigate the complaint. We have requested that the council members meet with the police on Saturday,” the spokesperson stated.