Video of bhajan played at Haryana Police crime review meet triggers public criticism
Chandigarh: A video of senior Haryana police officers listening to bhajans during a recent crime review meeting has sparked widespread criticism on social media. The footage, circulating online, shows officials in a conference room clapping to a rendition of "Hare Ram Hare Krishna," performed by Hindu saints.
Many users on X (formerly Twitter) questioned the relevance of playing religious songs in a setting meant for assessing crime. Comments ranged from criticisms of the meeting’s tone to more serious accusations of the state prioritising religious displays over public safety. One user remarked, "Now what is the need of police? Let the bhajan kirtan troupe handle the justice system," while others highlighted that such activities should take place in private settings, not in official, taxpayer-funded gatherings.
The incident follows Haryana’s recent Assembly elections, which saw the BJP securing victory with Nayab Singh Saini as the newly appointed chief minister.
A review meeting on crime attended by top officials of Haryana police has come under the radar for playing bhajans (Hindu religious songs). A video has surfaced on social media platforms where senior police officers seated in what seems to be a conference room are seen enjoying pic.twitter.com/2WmU83ZC5U
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Over 700 deaths by negligence in Bengaluru, only two convictions in four years: Report
Bengaluru: Bengaluru has reported 707 cases of death by negligence since 2020, yet only two of these cases have resulted in convictions, highlighting significant challenges victims face in seeking justice.
Data accessed by the Deccan Herald revealed that 378 cases are currently under trial, 155 are under investigation, while 135 have been closed due to “false reporting” and 62 resulted in acquittals.
These negligence-related deaths were related to substandard civic infrastructure, roads, rain-related incidents, electrocution, factory accidents, among others. Alarmingly, 10-15 percent of these cases each year pertain to negligence involving civic agencies.
Under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), death by negligence was punished with two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the punishment has been increased to five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
The recent collapse of an under-construction apartment building in Bengaluru on October 22, which claimed at least nine lives, drew significant attention and led to a quick police case. However, in many negligence cases, even filing a police complaint can be a struggle.
A police officer investigating the Babusapalya case noted that in cases where a single labourer is killed, the victim’s family often opt for “settlement” with the accused due to their poor financial situation. “A large number of cases marked as false reporting are also the result of such settlements. Complainants either don’t cooperate during evidence gathering or just withdraw the case,” the officer was quoted as saying by DH.
In many instances, “settlement” cases are ultimately categorised as Unnatural Death Reports (UDRs), primarily involving fatalities at construction sites and factories. According to the officer, proving a case of death by negligence is complex and requires extensive technical work.
Saidulu Adavath, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), explained that the word ‘negligence’ has not been well-defined, therefore making careful investigations essential. He told the news outlet that when a complainant alleges negligence, there is a need to establish the acts that are actually negligent and then proceed with technical analysis to prove them. “Even a minor hiccup can cause the case to falter,” he added.
According to the latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Bengaluru has emerged as the leading metropolitan city for deaths due to negligence from civic bodies.
