New Delhi: An elderly couple resorted to a hunger strike to protest alleged police inaction in a theft case in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh.
Umesh Chandra Agarwal, a sanitary and water equipment businessman, and his wife launched their protest after a major theft at their warehouse. On the night of January 24-25, Ramesh Chandra and several associates allegedly used a tractor-trolley to break into their warehouse in Mohalla Sarfaraz Khan, stealing goods worth over Rs 10 lakh.
Following the theft, local residents alerted the couple, prompting them to contact the police via the emergency number 112. However, instead of prompt investigation and arrest of the accused, the couple alleges that the Kotwali police actively tried to suppress the incident and were seemingly in collusion with the perpetrators.
Despite submitting a written complaint at the Kotwali Police Station on January 25th, the police allegedly failed to file a formal report, the couple claimed. Instead, the accused reportedly received only a citation for a minor breach of peace. This inaction led the couple to believe their complaint was not being taken seriously, causing them to take extreme measures to bring their situation to the attention of authorities and the public.
While City Kotwal Rajiv Singh stated that a complaint has been received and an investigation is underway, the couple through the protest highlighted systemic issues in protecting them. Further actions will be determined based on the investigation’s outcomes.
In a separate tragic incident, an elderly couple in Azamgarh district ended their lives by jumping in front of a moving train. Identified as Basanta (72) and Barti Devi (68) from Karanpur village, the couple reportedly took the drastic step due to frequent disputes with their sons and daughter-in-law. Railway officials discovered their bodies on the tracks, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact reasons behind their suicide.
