Uttar Pradesh’s cops are protesting against the suspension of police officer Prashant Chaudhary, the main accused in the Vivek Tiwari murder case. The UP cops declared the 5th of October as a ‘black day’ to express their support in favour of the accused.
Vivek Tiwari, an assistant sales manager at Apple India, was shot dead by two police constables on the 29th of September. The police officers, Prashant Chaudhary and Sandeep Kumar, allegedly shot the victim in the area of Gomtinagar, Lucknow.
The UP cops were angry at the suspension of the police officers and started a protest in order to seek justice for the accused officers.
Avinash Prakash Pathak, General Secretary of Police (Non Gazetted Employees) Welfare Association, Uttar Pradesh addressed the media and said, “We have asked all constables of UP police to gather at Allahabad and observe October 5 as ‘Kala Diwas’ in order to protest against the senior officers of department, who instead of supporting their men, prefer to punish them.” He further added, “The gathering will also be attended by senior lawyers of Allahabad High Court who will give legal help to constable Chaudhary.”
The national president of the Police (Non Gazetted Employees) Welfare Association, Uttar Pradesh, constable Brijendar Singh Yadav wrote a letter to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath. In the letter, he threatened to go on an indefinite fast if the police department and the government do not withdraw the charges against Prashant Chaudhary.
Constables supported the black day and targeted the police department’s senior officers and the government by posting pictures wearing black ribbons, criticizing and accusing the higher authorities. These posts went viral when they were shared on various social media platforms.
Praveen Kumar, Inspector General of Police, opposed the protest and assured strict actions against the constables who suggested the protest and spread messages regarding them on social media platforms. He said, “We have identified some people. They have been on the department’s radar for similar activities. Some of them are suspended cops with record.”
Kalpana Tiwari, Vivek’s wife, was shocked by the protest and appealed to the police officers to not take part in the protest.
