New Delhi, July 28: Two former Directors General of Police (DGPs) from Uttar Pradesh have expressed their support for the Supreme Court’s recent comments and directives regarding the protests by the Cockroach Public Party (CJP) and the police actions that followed. They emphasized that peaceful protests are a democratic right, but violence and criminal activities must not be tolerated.
In an interview, former DGP Vikram Singh stated that the Supreme Court has made it clear in its order that there will be no double standards for those involved in violence or criminal activities. He noted that the court’s directive strengthens the rule of law.
Singh criticized the CJP’s response, which allegedly threatened to resume protests if administrative orders were not revoked. He labeled this as contempt of court, suggesting that such language indicates a belief that some individuals consider themselves above the law. He asserted that the Supreme Court’s orders are binding for everyone, and if a party disagrees with a court decision, legal remedies are available. He urged that reconsideration petitions or other legal processes should be pursued rather than attempting to exert pressure through street protests.
The former DGP also appealed to the government and police to remain prepared for all possible scenarios while exercising restraint in maintaining law and order. He emphasized that efforts should be made to control situations without unnecessary force or violence, as the police are not the enemy of the public.
Meanwhile, former DGP A.K. Jain in Lucknow welcomed the Supreme Court’s remark affirming that peaceful protests are a constitutional right and that actions should be taken against excessive use of force. He described the court’s decision as balanced and well-considered. Jain warned that granting relief to criminal elements under the guise of protests without investigation could send the wrong message in the future. He highlighted that individuals accused of serious crimes, such as murder and narcotics, participating in protests and spreading violence without repercussions would embolden antisocial elements.
He claimed that a report by the Delhi Police, based on facial recognition systems, identified around 2,800 individuals linked to various criminal cases. This raises serious questions about how a long-standing peaceful student movement suddenly turned violent and how such elements infiltrated it.
The former DGP further stated that if external criminal elements disrupt a movement with stone-pelting and violence, strict action should be taken against them to set a clear precedent for the future. This would convey that violence and chaos under the guise of democratic protest will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
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