A police officer in Ghaziabad has stirred controversy by using a mobile phone as a fake 'scanner' to intimidate slum dwellers during a verification drive, claiming the device could detect their true nationality. The incident, which occurred in the Bhowapur slum cluster, has prompted an internal inquiry after videos surfaced on social media.
The 'Scanner' Stunt During Verification Drive
The unusual event took place on December 23 during a foot march in the Kaushambi area. A team led by Station House Officer (SHO) Ajay Sharma of Kaushambi police station was conducting checks in the Bhowapur slum, which houses approximately 50 shanties. Instead of following established protocols designed to protect dignity, the officer introduced an element of fear.
In a 26-second video that went viral on Thursday, SHO Sharma is seen interacting with a resident. When the man produced an identity card stating he was from Araria in Bihar, Sharma questioned if he was actually from Bangladesh. To 'verify' this, the officer then announced he had a machine that could immediately determine a person's origin.
How the Fake Machine Was Deployed
A constable was instructed to bring the 'machine' – which was simply a mobile phone – and place it on the man's back. SHO Sharma then falsely claimed the device was showing 'Bangladesh'. Despite the slum dweller's repeated insistence that he was from Bihar, Sharma pressed him to identify Bangladeshis in the cluster, to which the resident replied there were none.
When confronted by the Times of India, SHO Ajay Sharma defended his actions. He stated he had not done anything wrong but had merely "tried to put pressure on them so that they reveal their true identity." He insisted that no one was harassed during the exercise.
Police Department's Response and Inquiry
The incident has drawn attention from senior officers. A senior police official clarified that while a foot march was part of security arrangements during the Christmas and New Year period, no specific order was given from seniors to conduct checks in such a manner.
Police Commissioner J Ravindra Goud told TOI that the details of the video are being checked. He assured that "if any person is harassed by police, we will take action." This statement indicates a formal review is underway regarding the SHO's unconventional and alarming verification method.
The event highlights the tension between security procedures and the rights of citizens, especially in vulnerable communities, raising questions about appropriate police conduct during verification drives.
