Hatemonger and Shiv Sena Taksali leader Sudhir Suri allegedly enjoys the protection of 15 cops

Image Courtesy:indianexpress.com

Even after being accused in six cases, most on charges of making casteist remarks and hurting religious sentiments, serial offender Sudhir Kumar Suri, a self-styled leader of the right-wing Shiv Sena (Taksali) enjoys a security cover that even lawmakers in Punjab can’t avail of, reported The Indian Express.

The serial hatemonger and Hindutva propagator allegedly enjoys the protection of 15 cops of the Punjab Police. Suri’s spokesperson Ranjit Singh told IE, “He has been given eight gunmen, five constables and two drivers. He has been given only one police pilot Gypsy. The security cover, however, is not enough. We have filed a writ in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking central government security cover for Suri.”

History of hate speech

One of the first cases against Suri, reportedly for hurting religious sentiments, was registered in 2014. In 2017, the Amritsar police took suo moto action against Suri after he allegedly used derogatory and provocative language against the Sikh community. He was booked under Sections 294 (using obscene language and act), 153-A (promoting enmity between two communities) of the IPC and 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, The Tribune India reported.

In 2018, the Civil Lines police had booked Suri for allegedly making casteist remarks and using abusive words against the Dalit community through a WhatsApp audio message, Hindustan Times had reported. With regards to this, a complaint against him was filed under Section 3 of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and 67 of Information Technology Act.

Recently, on the basis of an anonymous complaint, he was also arrested in April 2020 for allegedly making communal remarks against the Tablighi Jamaat members on social media, IE said. In April he was booked under Sections 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race…), 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs, 505 (2) (Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) and 115 (Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life) of the Indian Penal Code.

However, the case was termed as fabricated by his spokesperson who said that the social media account used was not Suri’s and that he was being targeted by police officers.

This week, on July 8, 2020, the police registered another FIR against Suri under Section 153 A of the IPC, reported IE, for a video where he was allegedly seen using objectionable language for women of the Sikh community.

However, Suri posted a video on his Facebook account saying that he was not the person in the video and that his lips and voice had been morphed into it.

It was also said that the chairman of the DSS, Loveleen Luv Mattu, was yet to be provided security cover in spite of repeated requests. He told IE that the alleged reason he hadn’t received security was because of the caste system being in play, alleging that Suri was provided security as he belonged to the general caste while Baba Meghnath, the religious leader of the DSS was only provided a temporary constable for security. Mattu told IE, “At least four cases are registered against Suri under section 295 (a) for hurting religious sentiments and one under the SC/ST Act. Last year, he was also booked for using defamatory words against Bhagwan Valmiki.”

Our take: It is questionable why somebody like Suri has received police protection in the first place. It is also noteworthy that after Suri’s alleged objectionable remarks on women of the Sikh community, a number of Sikhs took to the streets demanding his arrest. They questioned his commitment and contribution to Hinduism and asked why taxpayer money was being spent on his security. But they were made to run from one location to the other and yet their complaint wasn’t registered. The police allegedly said that they would inquire and then register the case. The same police didn’t hesitate once before brutally beating up commoners or arresting dissenters. Is the preferential treatment for Suri and for those of his ilk due to the political patronage they enjoy?