Lipi Singh, the superintendent of police (SP) of Munger, Bihar is in the news for her role in the shooting that occurred at a Durga puja immersion in the said area. SP Singh is receiving widespread flak on social media for allegedly opening lathi charge and fire upon Hindu devotees that resulted in the death of an 18-year-old boy and left several people injured. Munger police, however, maintains that fire was opened by someone from the crowd and not by them.
The incident happened on Monday, just days before the first polling phase in Munger. Amidst the politically charged atmosphere of the ongoing Bihar elections, many opposition leaders are calling for strict action against SP Singh. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav has gone as far as to compare Singh with General Dyer - a British officer who was responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Multiple conflicting videos - featuring the police officials using undue force upon the devotees and the locals blaming officials - are doing the rounds on social media. However, investigations regarding the incident are still underway.
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On October 29, the Election Commission ordered immediate removal of Singh and Munger's District Magistrate Rajesh Meena. As per reports, protesters ransacked SP Singh's office and torched a police outpost as well on the same day.
"In the light of prevailing situation in Munger, ECI has ordered immediate removal of SP and DM Munger. ECI has also ordered inquiry into the entire incident by Mr. Asangba Chuba Ao, Divisional Commissioner, Magadh, which has to be completed within next seven days," said Bihar Chief Electoral Officer in a statement.
Here are some things you must know about Lipi Singh:
• A 2016-batch IPS officer, Lipi Singh is the daughter of retired IAS officer (Uttar Pradesh cadre) Ramchandra Prasad (RCP) Singh. Currently, he is a Janata Dal (United) leader.
• Her husband Suharsha Bhagat is also an IAS officer and is currently serving as the District Magistrate of Banka.
• As per SP Lipi Singh herself, she became the first female police officer in Bihar’s Barh district after she was appointed as its deputy superintendent of police (SDPO).
• However, her appointment also created a controversy when she was removed from the post prior to 2019 Lok Sabha elections and made the ASP in Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on the Election Commission’s directives. As per reports, this transfer was initiated on basis of a complaint filed by Mokama MLA Anant Singh’s wife Neelam Devi. Devi was contesting elections as a Congress nominee at the time. SP Singh was eventually reinstated as the SDPO of Barh.
• One of Singh’s most notable achievements is said to be her contribution to the recovery of an automatic rifle and grenades from MLA Anant Singh’s house in 2019.
• Her approach to crimes and police investigations had previously earned her the moniker ‘Lady Singham’. She is now being called ‘General Dyer’ following the shooting at Munger.
• In an interview last year, Singh revealed that she considers Bihar to be a male-dominated state. She said, “Nobody expects us to conduct raids at night. When we do so, people wonder.”
Tarini Gandhiok is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.
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