‘Caught’ with dancers, cops thrash scribe
VARANASI: A cameraman sustained injuries and fell unconscious when two RPF cops allegedly beat him up for recording their dance with women dancers at a programme organised on the premises of Lord Hanuman Temple at Mau railway station, late Tuesday night to mark the ‘chhati’ (sixth day of the birth of Lord Krishna) celebrations after Janmashtami.
The two cops have been suspended. The condition of the cameraman Abhishek Rai, who was admitted to the district hospital, is stable now. Meanwhile, district magistrate Vaibhav Srivastava has ordered a probe and directed district hospital authorities to ensure Rai’s free treatment. He has also written to the ministry of railways urging them to take action in the matter.
According to police, a cultural programme was organised on the premises of Lord Hanuman Temple at Mau railway station. Cameraman of a TV channel Abhishek Rai reached the venue after he came to know about the event as his train to Kanpur was late by two hours. Police said that when the cameraman noticed a Railway Protection Force (RPF) sub inspector along with few other constables dancing with the dancers, he started making a video clip. On seeing Rai recording the event, the sub inspector lost his cool and beat him up so much that he fell unconscious. Meanwhile, on receiving information, local journalists gathered at the spot and rushed the cameraman to the district hospital. DM Vaibhav Srivastava, SP Shiv Hari Meena reached the hospital and inquired about the condition of the cameraman. Later, a case was registered against RPF sub inspectors Arvind Rai and Bhrigunath Ram and 12 others with the Government Railway Police (GRP) under relevant sections of IPC following a complaint by the cameraman.
RPF commandant Rakesh Sharma said, “RPF inspector has been asked to submit a report in the matter. ”