UP Police chief says 'rogue' cops who killed Vivek Tiwari will be dismissed, asks for forgiveness

Condemning the killing of Apple executive Vivek Tiwari by a constable for not stopping his car at a checkpoint in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh police chief OP Singh asserted on Saturday that the “rogue” policemen will be dismissed from service. The Director General of Police (DGP) said that the shooting was a criminal case and no policeman is permitted to gun down anybody.

Vivek Tiwari, who was accompanied by his colleague Sana Khan, was shot dead late on Friday night in Lucknow’s upscale Gomti Nagar neighbourhood. Interacting with media persons hours after the incident, the DGP said the constables who were on a bike intercepted Tiwari’s car for checking, but he did not stop and tried to ram the car into their bike. Constable Prashant Chaudhary claimed he had fired in self-defence. However, Sana Khan maintained that that they hadn’t realised that the policemen wanted them to stop, and their vehicle had hit the motorcycle while trying to pass them. The two constables were arrested on the basis of an FIR lodged by Khan.

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Expressing anguish DGP Singh said as quoted by NDTV said, “No amount of apology will suffice for the loss of a precious life, heal the wounds of the devastated family. My heart goes out for the little daughters, wife and family members of late Vivek Tiwari. He also said such a deviant and criminal behaviour by police personnel deserves the “strictest punishment”.

“We are determined to punish and wean out such rogues in uniform who (make us) hang our heads in shame. At the same time, we have also embarked on systematic reforms through behavioural training and humanisation of the force,” Singh asserted. He also reprimanded police personnel to “change their attitude and revive image among the masses”.

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Tiwari was hit on the neck when constable Prashant Chaudhary fired at the car’s windshield. The vehicle ended up ramming into the pillar of a bridge nearby. Though Tiwari was rushed to the Lohia Hospital, he later succumbed to his injuries.

According to the post-mortem examination report, there was a firearm injury from a bullet on the left side of the chin and viscera. The police have set up a special investigation team (SIT). Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take effective action in the case. The chief minster has said if needed a CBI investigation will be taken up.