Forget protecting citizens, UP police escorts Azam Khan's buffaloes

Even as the whole country continues to debate the deteriorating law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, the administration, instead of using its police force to ensure safety for its citizens, has instead provided a security cover for Azam Khan’s buffaloes.

“This time the men in khaki in Saharanpur left no stoned unturned in according a royal treatment to the five buffaloes belonging to the minister when they were being transported from Punjab to Rampur,” a Times of India report said.

The buffaloes were transported by trucks to Saharanpur.

Times of India further  reported that “during the stopover at Saharanpur, cops were seen feeding the buffaloes freshly prepared rotis in front of the Gaagalhedi police station. Some even rushed to bring in a sack of fodder rich in jaggery. Soon a bonfire was lit up to keep the mosquitoes at bay.”

The fact that Saharanpur saw riots last month makes this even more shameful.

The last time Khan was in the news, was when seven of his buffaloes went missing from his farmhouse in Rampur in February.

A high level search team was roped in to hunt the stolen buffaloes. Senior administration officials were also reportedly a part of the team. A squad of sniffer dogs was also deployed to trace the Minister’s stolen animals.

CNN-IBN had reported that three officers were transferred because of his buffaloes being stolen. State tourism Minister Om Prakash Singh had defended the suspension, saying that the government was in power to decide who could be transferred and promoted.