FIR Registered Against 28 Individuals for Blocking Lucknow-Kanpur National Highway
Police in Lucknow have taken legal action by filing a First Information Report (FIR) against three named individuals and 25 unidentified persons. The charges stem from an incident where they allegedly blocked the Lucknow-Kanpur National Highway in the Sarojininagar area. This protest was triggered by the closure of an illegal road cut by traffic authorities, leading to significant disruptions on this crucial transportation route.
Incident Details and Police Response
According to official reports, the FIR was registered late on Friday and came to light on Saturday. The complaint was filed by Sub-Inspector Avneesh Verma of the Sarojininagar police station, detailing that the incident occurred on April 9 at approximately 6 PM. At that time, Verma was assigned to law and order and VVIP duty in the airport area when he received urgent information about the highway blockade.
The protest erupted on the Farrukhabad–Chillawan stretch of the highway after traffic police, as part of an enforcement drive, used a crane to seal an unauthorized cut on the highway divider. This action by authorities was intended to address safety concerns, but it quickly sparked resistance from local residents.
Acting swiftly on the information, Verma mobilized a police team that included Sub-Inspectors Neeshu Chaudhary and Abhishek Tripathi, along with Constable Sumit Kumar. They promptly reached the scene to assess and manage the situation. Upon arrival, they coordinated with traffic personnel, including Traffic Sub-Inspector Vinod Kumar Singh and Head Constable Ramkumar Maurya, in an effort to pacify the protesters and restore normal traffic flow.
Escalation and Legal Action
Despite these efforts, the situation escalated as the crowd reportedly refused to disperse. Police have identified three key accused in the FIR: Manik Chandra Tiwari, Rakesh (a local grocery store owner), and Brijendra Sharma alias Pappu. According to the FIR, these individuals, along with 20-25 others, deliberately blocked the highway, raised slogans, and disrupted vehicular movement.
Sub-Inspector Verma stated in the FIR that despite repeated appeals by police personnel, the protesters continued their blockade. This forced authorities to call for additional force to bring the situation under control. The highway was eventually cleared after intervention by senior officials and the arrival of reinforcement teams, allowing traffic to resume normal operations.
Background and Official Statements
Police officials maintained that the illegal road cut had been sealed due to frequent road accidents and persistent traffic disruptions caused by its unauthorized usage. The closure was part of a broader traffic regulation drive aimed at improving road safety on the busy Lucknow-Kanpur route, which sees heavy vehicular traffic daily.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) for Sarojininagar, Rajneesh Verma, confirmed that the FIR was registered under charges including unlawful assembly, obstructing a public way, and disrupting traffic. He emphasized that further investigation is underway to identify the remaining participants involved in the protest, indicating that more individuals may face legal consequences as the probe continues.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges authorities face in balancing public safety measures with community reactions, particularly in urban areas where traffic management is critical for both mobility and security.
