Meerut- Police action against protesters demanding justice in the murder case of a Dalit woman at the Meerut Collectorate on Wednesday has snowballed into a major controversy. Viral videos circulating on social media allegedly show Meerut Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Avinash Pandey slapping protesters and entering a police van to assault advocate Ravi Gautam, who had been taken into custody.

Another video that has surfaced purportedly shows the detained advocate attempting to hang himself inside the police vehicle. Following the circulation of these videos, widespread anger has erupted among Bahujan organisations, lawyers, social activists and opposition leaders. Several organisations have demanded an impartial inquiry into the incident and legal action against the SSP.

According to Meerut Police, a woman went missing from the TP Nagar police station area on May 15. Her family lodged a missing person's complaint on May 16, and her body was recovered from a village under the jurisdiction of Rohta Police Station on May 17. The body was immediately identified, and the investigation was assigned to the Circle Officer, Brahmpuri.

Police stated that during the investigation, two additional individuals were found to have allegedly assisted in destroying evidence. Appropriate legal provisions were added against them, and further legal proceedings were initiated. According to the police, the victim's family remained in constant contact with the investigating officer and senior officials, and all concerns raised by them were addressed.

Family Was Provoked Into Blocking Roads, Says Police

In an official press note, Meerut Police alleged that despite the progress in the investigation, certain "anti-social and unlawful elements" provoked the victim's family and attempted to give the case a different dimension.

According to the police, a large crowd gathered under the pretext of submitting a memorandum and blocked public roads, disrupting law and order and traffic movement.

The press note states that police and administrative officials repeatedly appealed to the protesters to clear the roads. When they allegedly refused, police used what it described as "minimum necessary force" to remove the blockade and restore normal traffic.

The police further stated:

Police also named Ravi Gautam, son of Satpal, as one of the persons involved in the incident.

However, protesters and social organisations allege that the police used excessive force and assaulted individuals who were already in custody.

Viral Videos Trigger Public Outrage

Tensions escalated during the demonstration at the Collectorate, with police maintaining that action was necessary to restore law and order, while protesters insist they were peacefully demanding justice for the victim.

Multiple videos that later went viral appear to show SSP Avinash Pandey slapping protesters. One widely circulated clip allegedly shows him entering a police vehicle and slapping advocate Ravi Gautam while he was inside the police van. In another video, the SSP is purportedly heard reprimanding protesters with the phrase, "Netagiri karta hai..." ("You act like a leader...").

A separate video circulating on social media allegedly shows advocate Ravi Gautam attempting to hang himself inside the police vehicle after being detained.

Former CM Akhilesh Yadav condemned the incident strongly. In a social media post, Yadav said, " Under BJP rule, the police are breaking records of injustice. The administration's crackdown and lathi-charge against the victim's family and others in Meerut, who were raising their voices for justice for Lalita Gautam, a daughter of the Dalit community, is utterly condemnable. When the state's top leader himself openly sets an example of insensitivity towards the mother of the deceased, it is futile to expect anything better from his police force."

Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad condemned the police action through a social media post, calling it deeply disturbing that people demanding justice for a Dalit woman were allegedly subjected to such treatment. He said the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to seek justice and protest peacefully and announced that he would visit Meerut to meet the victim's family.

Social activist Laxman Yadav described the incident as an attack on democratic rights and demanded action against the officials responsible.

Several other writers, commentators and social justice activists also shared the viral videos, arguing that if individuals sitting inside police custody are assaulted, it raises serious concerns about the rule of law and constitutional values.

D. Babu, State President of the Advocate Protection Council, Uttar Pradesh, stated that if persons already in police custody were assaulted, it would raise serious questions about the rule of law, democratic values and the spirit of the Constitution.

He urged the Uttar Pradesh government to conduct an independent and impartial inquiry into the entire episode and to initiate strict legal action against SSP Avinash Pandey if the allegations are substantiated.

He further said that the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to seek justice, protest peacefully and express dissent, and protecting these rights is fundamental to a functioning democracy.

Calls for Independent Inquiry

Following the incident, numerous Bahujan organisations, Dalit rights groups and lawyers shared the viral videos on social media, describing the episode as an example of alleged police excesses and abuse of authority. Many questioned how citizens' constitutional rights could be protected if persons in police custody were allegedly subjected to physical assault.

Several social organisations have demanded that the Uttar Pradesh government order an independent investigation into the viral videos. They have urged that if the inquiry confirms the use of unlawful force or custodial assault by police personnel, those responsible should face appropriate legal action.

Meanwhile, Meerut Police maintains that its actions were necessary to maintain law and order during the protest and that the entire incident is being examined in accordance with the law.