In yet another incident of police insensitivity toward the public in distress, a call recording of the conversation between 22-year-old Divya Jadav and Bopal Police Station Head Constable Rajeshdan Gadhvi went viral on Tuesday.
In the call that Divya made to Bopal police, she could be heard urgently requesting Gadhvi to dispatch a team to her residence immediately as their neighbor Utkash Barot had assaulted her mother once again. When Divya asked the constable when the police would arrive, he replied by asking why they could not visit the police station in the daytime. Divya explained that they had already visited the station twice and submitted an application a fortnight ago, but the police had taken no action.
After this, she again asked when a team would arrive, prompting an irate response from Gadhvi who questioned why the police should serve her. He stated, “We are not your servants. The authority you are showing towards us should have been directed towards the person who is attacking you.” Gadhvi then shouted an insult at her and disconnected the call.
Later, Divya, an MA student with a part-time job, lodged an FIR against both Barot and Gadhvi, detailing the events of Sunday’s altercation. A team from the Abhayam helpline and Bopal police arrived at her home afterward. She also alleged mistreatment by Gadhvi at the police station, where he scolded and insulted her, forcing her to leave after taking her application.
Bopal police charged both Barot and Gadhvi with causing harm, criminal intimidation under IPC, and violations of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.