 Hundreds of people applying to join the police have gone on the rampage in the northern Indian city of Ghaziabad. Riots began because many felt a written test was too difficult, officials say.
Sign your name here, please Sir.
Whaaa? This is blatant discriminations, isnt it?| Can't have your way, so you riot? That's an automatic flunk. Bzzzzt! Next candidate! |
The mob of would-be officers rampaged along a stretch of the main road to Delhi, attacking people and property. Almost 30 people were arrested.
I have the right to remain silent..."Into the paddy wagon wit' yez!"
"Can I drive?"
"Not from the back." |
Passengers were forced from their vehicles and reports say several women were molested. It took police an hour to bring the riots under control.
| Somehow I see this as "Police Academy 16: Based on a True Story." |
About 20,000 hopefuls had turned up on Sunday evening to take the written test assessing their suitability to be constables in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh police. These men will become gangsters if they do not become policemen
So makes sense to make them policemen, no?| Always assuming there's a difference. |
The state's home secretary, RM Srivastava, told the BBC that the candidates were upset because they found the question paper too difficult.
Uttar Pradesh State Police New Recruits Theory Exam - Multiple ChoiceQuestion 1.
A Ghaziabad police officers duties include:
A) Arresting bad guys
B) Smashing up / hijacking buses & cars
C) Smashing Fences
D) Molesting Womens
E) Very many kickbacks, nice Government salarys and very smart uniforms. As they left the police headquarters in Ghaziabad, several hundred angry applicants began stopping cars and buses on the highway, breaking windows and demanding lifts. The mob then ran out of control along a 5km (three-mile) section of the main highway to Delhi, smashing fences, looting food from kiosks and beating up shopkeepers.
Hmmmm, Dhonut Bhajees...| "It's a riot! Don't call the cops!" |
Security forces baton-charged the rioters to restore order. Uttar Pradesh police say they have now obtained still photographs and film of the riots and are busy identifying those responsible so their applications to join the police can be fast-tracked rejected. "These men will become gangsters if they do not become policemen," one man in Ghaziabad was quoted as saying by the Times of India newspaper.
| Could be they already are. |
The unrest comes as the government is trying to reform the police services.
| Oh, that's working well, innit?. |
Complaints of police corruption and heavy-handedness are commonplace in India.
| No! Reeeeeeeeally? Who'da ever thunkit? |
The BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Delhi says most Indians have little faith in their police, viewing them as lazy, corrupt and inefficient. The riots will do little to change that perception, our correspondent says. |