Published in India Today

PROTECTOR, WHO INDEED IS A PROTECTOR

The SSP of Muzaffarnagar took innovative initiatives to stop the killing of aged bachelors, which were taking place due to the faulty system. Now the figures of the killings due to property have come down.

For about one and a half decades back the senior officers of police didn’t know about the strange old bachelor system, which was a tradition in U.P west. This faulty system has its great contribution behind the killing of these aged people in this area. The officials tried to control this but they were not very successful their efforts. But now the senior police officer of Muzzafarnagar Mr. Navneet Sikera has taken certain steps to control the killing of these old age bachelors and his efforts have started bearing fruits. Even though, the police stations of U.P west have a register which maintains the list of these old aged bachelors but now the police officers have been given strict instructions of being vigilant about it. Sikera says “Till now we have identified 6,000 aged bachelors and we are making their profiles. And the number of these old aged bachelors can increase to 20,000”. The police officers are going to each and every village in the search of these old aged bachelors, and making efforts to protect their lives. The major aspect of his plan is that a written agreement should be signed by the old aged bachelor and his family member stating that if he is killed; his property will be taken up by the government. Due to this unique plan, the figures denoting the killing of these aged bachelors have come down by more than half. To keep the relatives of such aged bachelors under pressure, the SSP himself took part in a Panchayat in which he ensured safety to these old aged bachelors.

The safety measures taken up by the administration has enlightened these aged bachelors. Sikera says that “Even when these aged bachelors face ordinary threats, they give us a call or they register a complain at the station”. Hence, 45 year old Jagpal ran away from his village Begripur and took a refuge at Sikera’s office. 48 year old Yogendra Kumar, who belongs to Begrajpur, has 10 acres of land registered as his property. He says that “Both my brothers are threatening me and so i have come and taken a refuge at the police station”.

In the U.P west, in the Jat community this tradition of the old bachelor system is quite popular. Although in Hindi Randuwa means a male widow, but in the local language of U.P west this word refers to a person who chose did not marry in order to stop the division of the family property. He lives as a member with one of his brother’s family and gives his share of property to the brother he lives with. But if he wants to leave his family and transfer his share of property to someone else, then it might cost him his life. The senior police officer of Muzzafarnagar K.P Singh says that in U.P west, more than 60% of the murders take place due to property conflicts. Sikera says that “The culture of bachelor system falls victim to greedy people. Every year around 10-12 bachelors are murdered in every police circles”.

For example, the family of 4 brothers of Bhaurikala district of Muzzafarnagar: Rajbir Singh, Jagmeher Singh, Chob Singh and Randhir Singh. First two brothers Rajbir and Jagmeher were unmarried, among them Rajbir Singh lived with his brother Randhir Singh but few years back he was killed under mysterious circumstances and his 12 acres of land was registered to Randhir Singh. After this Jagmeher Singh who was living with Chob Singh, left him and started living with Randhir Singh, and Randhir Singh became the owner of 36 acres of land. After this the infuriated sons of Chob Singh murdered Randhir Singh. To protect the life of Jagmeher Singh from Chob Singh, the police provided him with two security guards. During this, Jagmeher Singh transferred his property to the children of Randhir Singh. This enraged Chob Singh’s family more than anything and Chob Singh’s daughter arranged the weapons and got Jagmeher Singh killed in front of the Police guards.

Anyway, due to the efforts of Mr. Sikera the rate of the killing of these old aged bachelors has come down. The vice president Bhairav Singh Shekhawat praised Mr. Sikera for this policy. It is but obvious that due to the honest effort of one able police officer the society can change considerably.