By ZENAIRA BAKHSH / Maktoob Media
While sharing the picture of a Muslim protester being beaten by polycarbonate pipes by cops in Prayagraj, Nirmal Chandra Asthana, former Director General of Poilce (DGP) Kerala, tweeted about regretting the use of polycarbonate pipes for suppressing protests during his tenure.
“This is not a scene from some dance competition! But this the dance, which the police batons makes one dance,” Asthana tweeted.
A video of at least nine Muslims being brutally beaten by policemen in a Saharanpur police station shared by Asthana on Twitter with the caption “Beautiful, very beautiful ” has triggered criticism.
The massive protests against the derogatory comments against prophet Muhammed happened across India including New Delhi’s Jama Masjid and Uttar Pradesh’s cities Prayagraj, Hathras, Ferozeabad, Saharanpur, Moradabad and Ambedkarnagar where at least 300 Muslim protesters were later arrested.
Soon after, the pictures and videos of protesters being beaten by the police started surfacing on Twitter.
“The good, old, linseed oil-soaked bamboo lathis bring out much better dancer out of hooligans,” Asthana further wrote.
Protests erupted in these cities after the Friday prayers, leading to stone pelting and slogan shouting against Nupur Sharma over her remarks that triggered outrage across several Islamic nations.
In one of his tweets, Asthana said that peaceful protest is a fundamental right, “stone pelting is not”. He said that there is no law, which says that police are under any obligation to deal necessarily with water cannon and tear gas only. “Many judgements permit the police to shoot to kill if they deem it fit.”
While stating that it is not the Prime Minister’s job to reassure “stone pelters and rioters”, the ex DGP said that his job is to enforce law of the land. He further wrote that “the guilty conscience of pseudo seculars arising out of their despicable appeasement of a particular community for decades has led to the differentiation of accused on the basis of community.” “I have a clear conscience – when I support police use of force, I see only law breakers.”
As the demolition drive continues across cities in UP after the protests on Friday, Asthana who is a supporter of Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minster, Yogi Adityanath appreciated him for taking action against the protesters. “Aa gaya bulldozer Saharanpur main! Ye hui naa baat! Aanand, param aanand,” he wrote on his Twitter as he appreciated Adityanath for teaching Muslim protesters a lessons.
Many took to Twitter to launch a fresh attack against the former top cop who is an adamant supporter of Hindutva violence against Muslims.
This article first appeared on maktoobmedia.com
