In response to the demand of army officers who had met with the DM yesterday about the unjust arrest of the retired colonel Virender Chauhan, the DM today ordered the police to lodge a counter FIR against the ADM of Muzaffarnagar, who had also thrashed the colonel. In the meeting yesterday, the officers spoke at length about how the charges against the colonel, accused of molesting the ADM’s wife in a park of Sector 29 in Noida, were fabricated.
The army officers said they had CCTV footage of the park to prove their claims.
Manoj Panth, station officer of Sector 20, said, “We lodged the FIR against the ADM, his wife, driver, gunner and two domestic help under the IPC Sections 120B (punishment for criminal conspiracy), 147 (punishment for rioting), 307 (attempt to murder), 448 (punishment for house-trespass), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 504(criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication).”
The retired colonel was arrested on August 14 and sent to jail on the basis of a complaint filed by the wife of the ADM. An FIR was registered under various IPC Sections and sections of SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
In her complaint, the wife had mentioned that she was harassed by the accused and three other accomplices. She added that they also made remarks on her caste. The woman also said the accused had tried to kidnap her.
An ex-army officer said, “The ADM used his sources and got to know that the police would lodge an FIR against him. So, he ran away with his family. He always used his power in the wrong ways. Colonel Virender had several times lodged complaint with Noida Authority regarding illegal occupation and construction, but the Authority did not take any action against Chandra due to his clout.”
A group of retired army officers will conduct a candle march today to protest against the ADM. It will start from the Arun Vihar Club in Sector 37, go through Brahmaputra market, Mall Road and reach Shaheed Smarak in Sector 29.
The protest has, in fact, begun, and City Spidey has live updates from the site:
A protester said, “We are ready to fight such government officers who are using their powers wrongly. We don’t want such incidents to happen again.”
The wife of the accused, Indu Chauhan, said, “I only want my husband out of the jail. Strong punishment should be reserved for the ADM and his wife — they used their powers in the most vile manner possible. The police should investigate the matter thoroughly, but if they fail, strong action should be initiated against them by the government."
SK Vohra, ex-army officer, said, "Firstly, we want our man out of the jail, and then, the culprit should be punished in a way that no high-ranking government employee can dare to use their clout and rank in such a foul manner."
