A disturbing incident unfolded in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday when a woman Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) was allegedly assaulted by protesters. The DSP, along with her team, was attempting to prevent a road blockade organized by individuals demanding the immediate arrest of suspects in the murder of a driver near Aruppukkotai in Virudhunagar district.
The protesters had initially gathered outside the Aruppukottai Government Hospital demanding the arrest of the prime accused in the murder case. Following a warning from the police, they dispersed, but later attempted to proceed towards the Pandalgudi junction to block the road. When the DSP intervened to stop them, one of the protesters allegedly pushed her back. As the police team tried to disperse the crowd, they were outnumbered and a skirmish ensued.
In a separate incident, a bizarre situation occurred in Bihar during a protest. While trying to disperse a group of protesters who had stormed the roads of Patna as part of a nationwide protest, a policeman mistakenly hit the Patna Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Shrikant Kundlik Khandekar with his baton. The SDM was standing in the middle of the road when the incident occurred. Other policemen quickly intervened, realizing their mistake and escorted the SDM away from the scene.
These incidents highlight the complexities and potential dangers faced by law enforcement officers during protests. While the protesters in both incidents were demanding justice, their actions escalated into violence, underscoring the importance of peaceful and lawful means of expressing dissent. The alleged assault on the DSP in Tamil Nadu is a serious matter and should be thoroughly investigated. Similarly, the accidental hitting of the SDM in Bihar raises questions about the training and protocols followed by law enforcement during crowd control operations.
