UP cop asks Army jawan, whose house is looted, proof of surgical strikes

SHAHJAHANPUR: Umesh Singh, a soldier of Indian Army’s Rajput regiment posted in Bikaner, has been sitting on a protest along with his family members and local residents in front of Sindhauli police station in Shahjahanpur. Singh, whose ancestral house was looted on October 5, has alleged that the station house officer asked him to provide proof of Army’s surgical strikes across LoC when he enquired if there was any breakthrough in the loot case.The jawan said he felt insulted and will not be joining back the Army unless the robbers are caught.
Superintendent of police (rural) RK Bhartiya told TOI, “We will investigate the matter and strict action will be taken against the SHO if the allegations are found true.”
Singh, who has served in Army for a decade now, took an emergency leave and came to visit his parents when he got to know of the loot. His parents who live alone in the house were cornered by five armed men who wore masks in the morning of October 5. The robbers took away gold and silver jewellery, some cash and the soldier’s licensed gun.
After returning from Bikaner, Singh, who is a naik in the Army, observed little progress in the investigation and decided to begin his own probe. He provided details of two suspects and a witness to the police. The suspects were taken into custody but were later released as no substantial evidence was not found against them.
However, Singh, who strongly believes that a local politician is the mastermind of the robbery, said the suspects were released at his behest.
Sindhauli SHO Shailendra Pal Singh, however, refuted the charges and said it is a case of misunderstanding. “I was only trying to explain to him that the call detail records of a suspect is a confidential information which cannot be shared with anyone by the police. I have never misbehaved with him. Besides, we are working hard to solve this case and are confident of cracking it soon.”
Meanwhile, the soldier has said that he will not go back to his post unless the case is solved. “I have learnt the lesson that families of soldiers are not safe in UP because of police and politicians. I have decided not to return to my post unless the case is solved. I will find the accused and see to it that they are punished even if I have to quit my job,” Singh told TOI.