IAS officer’s death: Three constables suspended

Cops took time in responding to information shared by a passerby on Dial 100 about a body on Meera Bai Road

LUCKNOW: In the mysterious death of Karnataka cadre IAS officer Anurag Tewari, the Lucknow police on Tuesday passed the buck to three constables of police response vehicle (PRV) and suspended them for delayed response.

However, no action has been taken against inspector, Hazratganj, Anand Shahi and the police outpost incharge, Narahi, for their late response even after getting information about the incident.

Head constable Hari Shanker and constables Lalman and Ashwani Kumar Shukla on police response vehicle 467 have been suspended with immediate effect. “Three constables of the PRV 467 have been suspended with immediate effect for delayed response even after getting a call on Dial 100 from a passerby informing about the body lying at Meera Bai Road,” said Deepak Kumar, senior superintendent of police.

In the ongoing investigation in the case, some startling facts have come to light indicating very late response from the cops even after getting information.

According to the Lucknow police, the modern control room (MCR) got information about the body lying on Meera Bai Marg at around 6.10 am on May 17. However, a passerby had informed the MCR at around 5.23 am by dialling emergency number 100.

After getting the information, the MCR passed on the information to all police stations concerned at around 5.36 am. All data related to it is in the MCR’s record.

The SSP, however, was not aware of this delayed response. After getting information about the lapse on Tuesday, he ordered a probe and suspended the three constables of the PRV.

During probe, it came to light that the police response vehicle and cops from the police station concerned reached the spot 40 minutes after getting the information. “Cops reached the site 40 minutes after getting the information. Had they responded in time, my brother might have been alive today,” said Mayank Tewari, elder brother of the deceased.

To recall, Karnataka cadre IAS officer Anurag Tiwari was found dead under mysterious circumstances on May 17 near the state guest house on Meera Bai Marg in Hazratganj.

A resident of Bahraich district, Anurag is survived by his parents and two brothers Alok and Mayank Tiwari. He was the youngest. Anurag was commissioner, food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department in Bengaluru and was facing opposition from some of his senior officers over tenders. It may be pointed out that the UP government has constituted an SIT to investigate the issue. However, the state government ordered a CBI probe after family members met CM Yogi Adityanath.