Tears, Tears and Tears

Last year on 19th Nov 2023 we were shattered, decimated, destroyed, emotionally damaged, sullen and sunken. The highly charged and extremely successful World cup dream was yet again vaporized by our arch nemesis Australia. At one time we thought we were cruising but one missed shot by Rohit Sharma and lower order collapse (Surya Kumar Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja) lost us the great opportunity. This was a terrible loss and it brought back the ghastly memories of 2003 World Cup Final loss where our superb campaign led by captain Sourav Ganguly suffered the same fate against Australia. We thought its over for Rohit and company.

 

The situation was further aggravated by Mumbai Indians captaincy controversy and much publicized 'dissensions' within the ranks.

 

 

I did not give any importance to 2024 T20 World Cup but the way Rohit Sharma played one of the greatest T20 Innings against our arch rival Australia brought my faith back in the dream. I have not seen a better T20 inning than that one. Rohit Sharma single handedly destroyed Australia and it has a soothing effect on the visceral wounds of 2003 and 2023 World Cup Final losses. This match revolutionized old fans specially of my (1980s born) generation. Captain Rohit was back and so was our campaign.

 

Captain continued his intent and fearless cricket against England in Semi Final on a very tough wicket. The way he, Surya Kumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja played we knew that this time is ours. Bumrah has always been exceptionally perfect and Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh bowled exceptionally well too.

 

 

Now we were in Final. It was the Final match between all time chokers and chokers of last 10 years (we have recently achieved this ignominious title after losing 2014 T20 Word Cup Final, 2019 World Cup Semi, 2021 and 2023 World Test Championship Finals and 2023 World Cup Final). I knew in my heart that South Africa is the greatest Choker but mind was somewhere else.

 

My District Magistrate organized a big screen to see the final, i resisted as i organized the same on 19th Nov 2023 and we lost that match so i was kind of superstitious but nevertheless it was done. We started well but again missed shot of Rohit, unlucky edge by Rishabh Panth and rash shot of Surya Kumar Yadav brought us back the memories of last Final. It was the same deja vu sinking feeling yet again but a brilliant controlled inning by big match player Virat Kohli and superb counter attack by Axar Patel brought us some hope. The consolidation work was clinically finished by the team and we were back in the match.

 

 

Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh started  brilliantly but Kohli like inning of Quinton de Kock brought South Africa back in the game. 54 runs were needed from last 6 overs and South Africa had 6 wickets in hand. The match was slightly tilted towards South Africa at this point. Klaasen scored 24 runs in 15th over bowled by Axar Patel and it included two Sixes and two Fours. The match was sealed and no team can think of losing this match from this equation - 30 runs, 30 balls and 6 wickets in hand. But World call them chokers not without any reason. The Choker title has multiple generations contributions from the days of 1999 World Cup. South Africa has been numero uno holder of this title and how dare a novice India challenge this, no chance.

 

Last 5 overs were the most brilliant overs ever bowled by perhaps any team in a World Cup Final. Pandya brought us back in the match after taking Klaasen wicket.

Now 22 runs from 18 balls and 5 wickets in hand it was South Africa match even at this point of time. 18th over was bowled by Jasprit Bumrah and it was a superb exhibition of all time great bowling. He gave just two runs and took out Jansen by a mysterious ball. No one saw how it went pass through the defense pf Jansen. We were back in the game.

 

 

 

 

20 runs from 12 balls and 4 wickets in hand. Equation was tense and it was advantage India at this point. Arshdeep yet again bowled a brilliant over and gave just 4 runs. South Africa needed 16 runs from last over and it was Pandya's turn to play Hero. First ball was a full toss an it looked like a Six but Surya Kumar Yadav did what even a Superman cant dare to think. It was the greatest catch ever taken and this catch sealed the match for us. 

 

We won the match, we won the Cup and we kind of ease out the pain of 2003 and 2023 Final losses. We celebrated with the Police force, we celebrated with the people, we celebrated in the home, we celebrated on the streets, we burned crackers, we shouted, we cried and we did what we always wanted to do. The Cup has returned home after 17 years, another Cup should return soon. Thank you Captain Rohit Sharma and thank you entire Team. Thanks for the fearless cricket played by you throughout this world Cup. Thank you Rahul Dravid, finally you have the World Cup.

 

 

 

 

The good thing about time is, it changes. On 19th Nov 2023 there were the tears of shattered dream, on 29th June there are tears of victory. We cried in 2003 World Cup Final, we cried in 2019 World Cup Semi Final, we cried in 2023 World Cup Final. This time too we cried but these cries were same that we experienced in 2007 and 2011. We forgot that for a very long time. It's a huge redemption. It's a huge huge win. To win World Cup from such a situation was not possible even in wildest of imaginations and millions may have switched off their TVs after 15th but our Team had resilience and steel and we showed them when it mattered the most.

Congratulations Team India and congratulations fans.

 

Thank you Virat and Rohit for the memories. Thank you for everything.

 

 

Crime Diary : Black Shirt, Buttons and a gruesome Murder

On 29th May 2024 at about 2015 hrs i was strolling in my lawn when i got the news that a property leader has been shot point blank near St Mary Chauraha and was declared dead in District Hospital. It was a sensational murder in a crowded place. I immediately rushed to the Hospital that is about 100 m from my residence. The family members of the deceased were shattered and were inconsolable. I could not see them in their eyes. It was my failure as i am the District Police Chief. 

It was my responsibility to find the perpetrators and to ensure justice in this case and we have to do it quickly.

Bijnor Police Version:

https://x.com/bijnorpolice/status/1795848206628376895

 

Media:

 

We immediately rushed to the scene of crime. Teams were quickly deployed. Near crime scene we found a black shirt in bushes and few buttons torn from the shirt. In order to confuse us the killers deliberately threw off  their shirt so that we can not track them through CCTV cameras. We kept faith and zeroed in. In three days time we were able to find the shop from where that particular shirt was bought. This shirt, CCTV footage, Mobile CDR Analysis and Motive behind this gruesome murder solved the case for us. This shirt played the most important role in solving this case. Locard Principle always works.

So far we have been able to arrest 9 accused and we prevented two more Supari killings as these shooters were given money to kill two more.

 

 

Bijnor Police Version:

https://x.com/bijnorpolice/status/1797515078499184679

 

This case was very complicated one and gave us sleepless night. It was because of sheer competence, tenacity and never say no attitude of Bijnor Police we were able to solve the case. Among all cases closure is absolutely important in blind murder cases.

Before we had any lead I went to pray at Siddh Bali Maharaj (Kotdwar) and Mordhaj Shivalaya (Najibabad). Bhagwanji blessed us all on very same day and the case was solved within next few hours.

https:https://x.com/bijnorpolice/status/1795848206628376895//x.com/bijnorpolice/status/1795848206628376895

Dance of Democracy : LS 2024 Elections

It's been a long marathon and like all marathons it was a highly satisfying one.

To conduct any election is a highly challenging and a highly skilled job and to conduct the biggest election on this planet in a fair, transparent and peaceful manner requires a lot of sacrifice and commitment. 

Bijnor is a huge district covering 8 Assembly constituencies with a population of about 40 lakhs and about 100 km East-West expanse and 80 km North-South expanse. The demography is highly complex and people from all sections are well represented in this district. To conduct fair, peaceful and transparent elections was a major challenge in Bijnor and I am so proud when I say that Bijnor Police conducted itself in an exemplary manner and met the expectations of Honourable Election Commission. Not even a single complain came. Everyone including candidates, political parties and common people appreciated the excellent job done by Bijnor Police.

We started preparing for LS elections in November 2023 itself. The entire team from beat constable to SHO, from CO to Add SP and all support staff worked like a well oiled machine. This was my fourth election as a District Police Chief. Panchayat Elections of 2021 was my first election as SP Hapur, Vidhan Sabha 2022 election was my second election as SP Baghpat, Local Urban bodies 2023 election was my third election as SP Bijnor and Lok Sabha election 2024 was my fourth. This election was the best so far. 

My seniors guided me and solved my problems whenever I approached them. Without their guidance and supervision nothing was possible.

Special thanks to Inspector Harishchandra Joshi (Incharge Election cell) despite of him retiring next month he did a herculean job and tolerated by frequent frustrations. Add SP Ram Arj (SP Rural Bijnor) was nodal officer of elections and he did an excellent job. To prepare duty charts, arranging accommodations, transport, briefing etc require lot of patience and minute detailing. He did excel in everything. Thanks to all the Police personnel who came from different organisations and from different districts of UP.

Finally I dedicate this successful completion of LS election to each and every member of Bijnor Police, to each every member of Bijnor Home Guards and to the public of Bijnor without their cooperation nothing would have been possible.

Thank you all 👏👏

Crime Diary : Crime that shook the Criminal Justice System

On 17th Dec 2019 Bijnor saw unprecedented scenes, one history sheeter criminal named Shahnawaz  who was accused in a murder case and was brought on hearing to Bijnor by Delhi Police was shot dead by three men Sahil, Sumit and Akhraj inside CJM court. Shahnawaz was shot 12 times. All three accused were caught by policemen present inside the court. The court officials and policemen showed exemplary courage and facing grave danger they caught all the three accused. Constables Manish Kumar, Vikas, Ravi Kumar, Sanjeev and others did exemplary work. This was a huge incident and created a huge problem. Orders were passed for proper security of the courts.

 

This incident was all over the media national and state both.

 

 

This was a revenge killing over property dispute. On 28th May 2019 property dealer Haji Ehsan and his nephew Shadab were shot by Shahnawaz and his men over property dispute. Haji Ehsan's son Sahil conspired with Sumit and Akhraj to kill Shahnawaz and his men inside court. There was no feeling of any remorse.

This case went on for 52 months. 157 hearings took place. This case was closely monitored by our team and on every day of hearing stringent security protocol was put in place. Our Investigating team, monitoring cell and prosecution team did a good job and on 23rd May Honourable Court awarded life imprisonment to main accused Sumit. Hope this will bring a permanent closure to a series of killings in which 3 persons were killed in last 5 years.

Conviction was also covered widely by the media.

 

This case is very important for the entire criminal justice system mainly on three points:

• Security of our courts
• Security of witnesses 
• Speedy disposal of such cases
  

Hope incidents like this will never happen in our courts.

Crime Diary : Bijnor Shocker

On May 16th/17th midnight at about 0040 hrs my PRO informed me that two girls (5 and 7 years old) had been found murdered in one room house in Goahawar Jait village coming under Noopur Police Station. This was a sensational information so I immediately rushed to the crime scene along with my team. Field unit team along with Dog squad team was also called in.

We reached the crime spot in about 45 minutes. The crime scene was a house with just 3.5 m by 2.5 m size room. This family is a very poor family. There are 5 daughters (13 years, 11 years, 7 years, 9 years and 5 years old) and 1 year old son. The first two daughters are from first marriage of Kavita (name changed)  and remaining are from her current husband Namdev (name changed). Wife is sick and husband works in a kiln close by. The entire village was in a shock and about 100 odd people including women and children were present there. We tried hard to console the inconsolable father. It was a heart wrenching crime scene. Two innocent girls of 5 and 7 were lying on ground with their bodies covered by a sheet. Who can kill these little girls?

There was no sign of struggle or forced entry in the room. The eldest daughter told me a story coming straight from a film that two men wearing black clothes, black masks and black gloves entered the house and strangulated the two girls and ran away while entire family was sleeping in the same room. No one heard any sound. The girl was frequently changing her statements. 

The crime scene and her frequent changing of statements raised enough suspicion so we called a very competent female Police Officer to interrogate the girl. The girl broke down and told us a very terrible, shocking and mortifying story. She confessed that she herself strangulated her two younger sisters in their sleep with her dupatta. 

We tried hard to find the reasons of this horrifying murder. The reason behind this crime came from two uneasy childhood trauma:

• The eldest daughter was from first husband and the deceased daughters from the current husband. There was a sibling envy coming from the very fact that the biological father of eldest daughter was not with her while her younger sisters were living with her own parents. Father used to dote his biological children more than his step children.
• The eldest daughter used to do all the household chores and villagers told us that she used to get frustrated of the daily work and used to complain a lot.

These two terrible daily experiences might have caused her 13 year old mind to do the unthinkable crime. 

Everyone including each one of us, media and others were finding it extremely challenging to believe that a 13 year old kid can kill her sisters in their sleep. This girl is victim as well as accused and has been sent to Juvenile care centre. 

Bijnor Police official press note/byte

https://x.com/bijnorpolice/status/1791299264485663020

Coverage by media

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/13-year-old-strangles-2-younger-sisters-in-ups-bijnor-my-family-was-big-i-had-to-do-all-domestic-chores-9334850/

https://www.aajtak.in/uttar-pradesh/story/bijnor-13-year-old-girl-killed-two-younger-sisters-strangled-them-with-scarf-told-reason-to-police-lclam-1945819-2024-05-17

https://hindi.news18.com/news/uttar-pradesh/bijnor-13-year-old-step-sister-strangled-two-younger-sisters-to-death-in-bijnor-police-revealed-shocking-details-8330230.html

This incident will continue to haunt all of us who attended the crime scene and were involved with the investigation.

May Bhagwan give shanti to the family and also bless the eldest daughter.