Overdoing anything, howsoever desirable, is always undesirable. And that is true for Operation Majnu too.



Inspired by the success of some recent sting operations conducted by media on politicians, the Meerut police also decided to conduct an on-camera operation to teach a lesson to the local love-birds, who had been visiting Gandhi Park, Surajkund, Ram Park, Victoria Park and Company Garden - some the favourite rendezvous of the city couples. This operation was nick-named “Operation Majnu”. Couples reached, TV cameras from various satellite news channels arrived and so did the police.



Things went on as per the plan until two of the lady cops went berserk to give their “best performance” before the camera. And what followed next was for the entire country to see: slapping, dragging, beating of the couples, mostly “Lailas”, continued for about an hour. India watched the police terror with horror as an overzealous police didn’t spare even lawfully-wed couples. ‘They did not even bother to ask if the couple were married or not,’ said Rampal, a gardener at the Gandhi Park. And why the hell they should have bothered to know the identity of the people around? After all, it was a matter of coming on television!



However, what sent the police top brass into tailspin is the all-round condemnation of the incident, and the NHRC and NWC taking note of the incident. This prompted the UP Government to take action against some of the errant cops, following which the Meerut SSP put under suspension the SP (City), Circle Officer (Sadar), an Inspector and a Sub-Inspector of the area, and a case was also filed against 13 policemen, which included the two overzealous woman cops.



The brutal and inhumane manner, in which these cops, mostly women, behaved, suggests how identity-hungry are these mentally-sick uniformed beings. In fact, they can go to any extent for the sake of lens-eye. Besides, a glance-back at the entire episode also points towards some frustrated souls within the uniform, who can’t stand the sight of love-birds sharing some joyous moments in each-other’s arms. And this for the simple reason that they themselves were never allowed in their youth to have this kind of pleasure or happiness!! Don’t you feel like agreeing with me?