Satyamev Jayate - Promise fulfilled and Justice delivered

On 15th Dec 2022 about 0815 PM Khekhra Police station of district Baghpat got the information that a 6 year old kid Shaurya Daagar had been missing since 0515 PM while coming from coaching in Fakharpur village. Police immediately started the search operation. Entire village also joined this.

We scanned all the cameras of the village and on all the routes getting out from the village. All sugarcane fields were searched. Drone was used, dog squad was used. More than 100 police personnel continued search operation for about 5 days but got no clue. Myself and my additional SP Manish Mishra while interrogating a suspect even analyzed his excreta in the sugarcane field to ascertain how old it is. We got fake calls that the kidnapped kid was seen in Loni, Delhi and other places. We even declared 50,000 Rs cash prize for giving any information about the kid.

We then switched our focus on close family members of the kid and interrogated them and verified their statements and soon we found a clue. Based on that we recovered the body of the kid buried in a field. He was killed within 10 minutes of his kidnapping and body was buried with his school bag. The motive behind this kidnapping/murder was to demand ransom from recently retired grandfather of the kid.

We arrested all three killers (Vineet, Akshit and Danny) on 20th Dec 2022. Vineet and Akshit were Shaurya's family members. Vineet was the son of the brother of Shaurya's grandfather Jagveer Singh. We did a thorough scientific investigation and filed the chargesheet within 24 days.

Local media reporter Devendra Chauhan did an excellent video coverage of the workout and captured the emotions perfectly. This video was recorded immediately after recovering the dead body of the kid.

 

I have never seen entire district coming together like one family and in many villages the food was not made and people did not eat anything. In many villages people gave 'shradhanjali' to the kid by lighting candles and taking processions. There was so much outrage on social media as well as on streets in this case. We took it as a challenge to ensure speedy justice in this case.

The trial started in March and after many arguments and cross examinations finally on 15th December 2023 Honourable Court found accused Neeraj alias Danny and Vineet guilty on exactly the same date when kid was murdered and on 20th Dec 2023 Honourable court awarded them life imprisonment on the same date when his body was found. God works in mysterious ways. The remaining accused will be prosecuted as a juvenile.

Shaurya grandfather Jagvir Singh ji called me on the day of judgment and he was so emotional and so was I. It was a moment every policeman lived for. Very rare it happens when we can see justice being delivered within a year in such a heinous crime. 

My entire team - Additional SP Manish Mishra, SO Khekhra Ravindra Rana, SOG incharge Ravendra Palawat, CO Vijay Chaudhary, Inspector Tapeshwar Saagar and all ranks of Baghpat Police deserve lot of appreciation for the hardwork, commitment and patience they have shown.

Entire prosecution team of Baghpat deserves a lot of credit and so does the Baghpat Police for monitoring this case so diligently. For me it will remain proudest and most satisfying day of my little more than 8 years of Police career. Faith in team and law always gives favourable results. 

 

On 26th Dec Shri Jagveer Singh (Dadaji of Shaurya), his Nanaji and few villagers came to my office in Bijnor and gave me a Shaurya photo frame memorabilia. It was a very emotional and heart wrenching moment for us all. This is far far greater than any award or appreciation that i have received so far in my life. I pray to God that no family should see tragedy like this.   

 

#SatyamevJayate

Bijnor Diaries : Kartik Poornima Mela

Taking holy dip in mother Ganga is considered highly meritorious and pious activity in Indian tradition. Mother Ganga since her advent by Bhagirath's effort has been the bedrock of our civilization. Countless sages, kings and ordinary persons have found motherly love in her heart. Its a rare luck and privilege that i have always found myself very close to mother Ganga. My Janmbhoomi (Kanpur), Gyanbhoomi (Varanasi) and now Karmbhoomi (Bijnor) all are situated close to mother Ganga. I was never a Karmakandi kind of person and i never followed strict adherence of any ritual but i always enjoy and cherish the living traditions of our faith and civilization like Ram Leela, Kaanvad Yatra, Ganga Snan Mela etc.

 

Mother Ganga enters Uttar Pradesh from Uttarakhand at Haridwar-Bijnor border and from there it makes the western border of Bijnor. Numerous temples, ghats and places of religious significance dot this border. The most famous are Vidur Kuti in Bijnor, Shukartal in Muzaffarnagar and Garh Mukteshwar in Hapur.

 

 

'Vidur Kuti Ganga Snan Mela' during Kaartik Poornima is of huge significance for people of Bijnor. This year it started on 23rd Nov and completed on 27th Nov (on Kartik Poornima). We made elaborate arrangements for this Mela and it was never boring. I actually enjoyed being part of this Mela. A large number of people from all castes and almost all age groups came to attend this Mela. As per my conservative estimates about 3-4 lakhs people took dip in Ganges. There were shops and there were shivirs and there were camps. Many thousands made their own tent and stayed in Mela for 3-4 days. There were buffaloes, cattle and there were tractors too. There was no fight, no rush and no drama. All came with faith in mother and mother showered love to all without any discrimination. On one side of Ganga ji is Muzaffarnagar district. According to Mahabharata, Mahatama Vidur crossed Ganga ji from Hastinapur Kingdom and lived his life in a Kuti (Cottage) on the bank of Ganga ji (in Bijnor) when the war started hence it is called Vidur Kuti. 

 

Apart from this great Mela there are other melas too in Bijnor viz Balabali Ganga Mela (Mandawar PS) and Nangal Ganga Mela (Nangal PS). These two melas are also at the bank of Ganga ji and are north of Vidur Kuti bordering Haridwar district of Uttarakhand.

Narnaur Mela in Chandpur PS area (Jaleelpur Block) is also a big mela. This borders Hastinapur. As Ganga ji shifted its course so now this Mela is organized in the territory of Meerut but this time Bijnor Police did all the arrangements.

People of Bijnor are very friendly, humble, polite and religious. It gives an immense sense of satisfaction to work among them and try to make their lives little more comfortable. After all blessings of mother Ganga is always there for all of us.