Meerut SSP Seen Striking Protester in Video; Police Say Crowd Turned Violent
A protest in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, over the murder of a Dalit woman escalated into violence on Wednesday, leading to the arrest of seven individuals and the registration of cases against over 30 others on charges including unlawful assembly and assaulting police personnel.
The protest drew widespread attention after a video circulated on social media purportedly showing Meerut Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Avinash Pandey entering a police van and striking a man who had been arrested earlier. The 30-second clip captures the SSP walking towards a group of sloganeering protesters, slapping several of them, then approaching a police van. He opens the van's door and is seen beating someone sitting inside before pushing the door shut.
Police, however, offered a different account, stating that protesters attacked police personnel, including women officers, leaving several injured. SSP Pandey declined to comment on the video, stating only, “We did not even know who this person was when he was held.” He alleged that two men had instigated the protest to gain publicity.
Senior officials, including Additional Director General (ADG) of Meerut Zone Bhanu Bhaskar, did not respond to requests for comment.
According to police, the woman went missing on May 15 and was found dead the following day. The main accused, a friend of the victim, was arrested on May 18, and another individual was later arrested for allegedly destroying evidence.
The protest began around 11 am on Wednesday at the Meerut Commissionerate. Demonstrators claimed that the real culprits had not been arrested. In a statement, Meerut Police said the crowd was repeatedly asked to disperse as it lacked permission to protest at that location. The situation turned violent, police said, with one protester, Ravi Gautam, threatening self-immolation, while others blocked traffic at the Commissionerate crossing, attempted to force open the gate of the District Magistrate’s office, and tried to enter the premises.
Addressing the media, SSP Pandey claimed that protesters pushed and scuffled with police and administrative officials before attacking personnel. He said police used “minimum necessary force” to restore law and order and clear traffic.
The SSP further claimed that preliminary investigation identified two men, Ravi and Digvijay Bhati, as the organisers of the protest. “The woman was murdered on May 16 and the killer was arrested within 24 hours. Those who helped him after the murder have also been arrested,” Pandey said, adding that the victim’s family was satisfied with the investigation and arrests.
According to police, Ravi, from Gautam Buddh Nagar, has four criminal cases against him, including two for murder in Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar. Digvijay, from Amroha, has nine cases, including five in Amroha and four in Meerut, and proceedings had been initiated to extern him under the Goonda Act, Pandey said.
In a separate statement, Meerut Police identified Digvijay, Ravi, Sushil Gautam, and Himanshu Sidharth as key individuals who allegedly incited protesters to violence. While the others were arrested, Digvijay escaped from the site, police said.
An FIR was registered at Civil Lines police station against 13 named accused and 25–50 unidentified persons on charges including unlawful assembly, obstructing government work, attacking police with intent to kill, and spreading misleading propaganda on social media. Seven people have been arrested.
