Jaipur: A day after the use of a dummy cow as a mid-air art installation caused a commotion at an art summit here, the Rajasthan government on Sunday removed a Station House Officer and a constable for alleged dereliction of duty and not tackling the situation properly.
“SHO of Bajaj Nagar Police station, Mahendra Gupta, and constable Sumer Singh have been sent to police lines for dereliction of duty and not tackling the situation properly,” Jaipur Police Commissioner JS Rao said.
As per media reports, the cops dragged artist Aneesh Ahluwalia by his hair along with another artist Chintan Upadhya to the police station after they protested the removal of the installation, he said.
The use of the dummy cow, made of plastic and hooked to a balloon, to convey the message of saving the animal from eating plastic waste at Jawahar Kala Kendra, a centre of cultural and artistic activities, created a controversy yesterday with activists raising objection to it and forcing the organisers and the police to pull it down.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje also condemned the incident. “I am saddened by the incident that took place at JKK yesterday. The Police Commissioner has extended his apology,” she posted on Twitter.
In another tweet, she said, “The SHO and concerned have been removed and I have spoken to the artist personally.(sic)”
—-PTI