Jammu: Policemen Transferred after Video of Them Dancing with Woman on Independence Day Surfaces

Two police officers have been transferred after outrage over a viral video which showed them dancing in uniform alongside a woman inside the police station on the night of August 15, as a part of Independence Day celebrations at Bani tehsil in Jammu’s Kathua district.

A video of the incident went viral as soon as it was posted in the morning of August 16. It showed police men –a sub-inspector (SI) and the station house officer (SHO) – dancing inside the Bani police station with a woman between them. Villagers alleged that the policeman, identified as the (SHO), was seen throwing money at the woman who was dancing to the tunes of Bollywood songs.

As per one of the witnesses, the celebrations were a part of annual Independence Day celebrations. However, as soon as the guests left, a woman was brought in and loud music began to be played. “Liquor was being passed around. Almost everyone was drinking and a woman was dancing to Bollywood item numbers,” the witness, who did not wish to be named, said.

Soon after the video went viral, the villagers, led by sarpanches and panches, protested outside the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s (SDM) office. They raised slogans and demanded immediate action against the policemen involved. Accusing the policemen of ‘insulting the nation on the eve of Independence Day’, the villagers threatened to launch a protest if no action was taken within two days.

Speaking to NewsClick, Sunil, the sarpanch of Bani, said: “I was also invited by the SHO to attend Independence Day celebrations but I didn’t go. Later, we learned from the guests that the policemen were drunk and were dancing with a woman. They were also throwing money at her and flouting COVID-19 guidelines with no policeman seen wearing a mask. We found it utterly shameful and we came out to protest.”

Another villager who wished to remain anonymous said that he was appalled after watching the video as he had seen such scenes in the movies. “Such scenes have been shown in movies. This is the first time that such a vulgar incident has happened in Bani, that too on the eve of Independence Day,” he said.

A transfer order was issued against the accused policemen in the evening of August 19. The order read: “In compliance to ZPHQ Jammu order No. 340 of 2020 dated 18/08/2020, Inspr. Ghulam Hussain Kamal, EXJ905683, SHO P/S Bani is directed to report at DPL Kathua. Consequent upon the above, the below named officers are hereby transferred from/to the places as shown against each with immediate effect (sic).”

Speaking to NewsClick, Joginder Jarotia, the SDM of Bani, said: “Yes, some local sarpanches and villagers had come to my office and demanded action against the SHO for this viral video. They also mentioned a few cases where they thought the SHO had discriminated against them. They submitted a written memorandum and I forwarded it to the Deputy Commissioner.”