Lucknow: Cruel act of a sub-inspector on Saturday generated a lot of flak for city police. Thousands of online users from all over the country, expressed anguish over photographs in which sub-inspector Pradeep Kumar, posted in Hazratganj police station was seen misbehaving with an elderly man.
For the last 35 years, Krishna Kumar has been sitting outside the General Post Office in Lucknow, barely earning Rs. 50 by typing in Hindi on his old typewriter.
It was just another day at work for the 65-year-old typist on Saturday morning, when a sub-inspector, Pradeep Kumar, reportedly asked him to vacate the spot.
When Krishna Kumar, who works at the same place some 10 hours a day, protested, the irate sub-inspector reportedly abused the elderly man and kicked the typewriter repeatedly till it broke into pieces.
Support for Krishna Kumar and call for punishment against the cop, poured in from all over the country. Actress Parineeti Chopra, film critic Rajeev Masand and former VJ and comic artist Jose Covaco retweeted the overwhelming images that went viral on social media.
After photos of the incident went viral, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday evening ordered the suspension of the sub-inspector. He also immediately ordered the District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police to visit Kumar and hand him two new typewriters.
On instructions of #UPCM @yadavakhilesh DM and SSP immediately visited Kishan Ji and handed over a new typewriter pic.twitter.com/180heCf8hd
— CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) September 19, 2015
Krishna Kumar resides near Patrakarpuram in Gomtinagar along with wife, son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Kumar’s son runs a roadside grocery store.
The family of five survives on less than Rs 10,000 a month. Kumar makes about Rs 70 to 100 a day and had spent three decades typing applications, letters and affidavits near General Post Office.