Shrestha Thakur , the woman police officer in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh who took on local BJP leaders for violating traffic rules last week, was transferred to Behraich district on Saturday.
Ms. Thakur, the circle officer of Syana in Bulandshahr, had arrested five BJP leaders on charges of obstructing a government servant from discharging duty. The video of Ms. Thakur chiding the BJP leaders for allegedly breaking traffic rules and demanding relaxation, had gone viral, earning her praise for doing her duty amid pressure from the ruling party.
She had, during the confrontation, asked the BJP leaders to get a written declaration from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath that “police had no power to check vehicles.” She had accused the BJP leaders of resorting to “goondaism and maligning the name of the party.”
Though Ms. Thakur was transferred outside Bulandshahr, along with four other police officers, local BJP leaders boasted to the local media that Ms. Thakur's transfer came after they had gone to Lucknow to complain against the cop as she had “demoralised” the local party cadres.
Muniraj. J, the SSP of Bulandshahr, told The Hindu that the transfer of Ms. Thakur, along with four other deputy SP-rank police officers in Bulandshahr, was part of the state-wide transfer of 44 Deputy SPs, 88 Inspectors and 359 Sub-Inspectors. Besides, the State DGP on Saturday also transferred 1,135 constables and head constables, as part of the rejig.
Mukesh Bhardwaj, the Bulandshahr president of the BJP told the local media that 11 MLAs of the district and its vicinity and the local MP, had gone and met Chief Minister Adityanath last week demanding action against Ms. Thakur.
This is not the first time that police officers who took action against BJP leaders are being transferred, although as part of transfer of other police officers. The Agra and Saharanpur SSPs who took on the ‘hooliganism’ of BJP and RSS workers in their respective work areas in April, were also transferred after representations from the party.
Ms. Thakur on her part said she was “happy” and saw her transfer as “reward for good work.” “Got transfer to Bahraich, it’s Nepal border. Don’t worry my friends, I am happy. I accept it as a reward for my good work. U all are invited to Bahraich,” she said on Facebook.
