There are some moments in one’s life that remain etched in memory almost as if they just happened a few seconds ago. One such incident immediately comes to mind when I think of Shivanand Jha – Gujarat’s newly appointed Director General of Police. Before I go about recollecting the incident, let me put forth my view in unequivocal terms that Jha’s appointment augurs well both for Gujarat and the state police.

Rewind to 2002 when Narmada bachao activist Medha Patkar came to Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati ashram to hold discussions on a peace initiative after the Godhra incident and ensuing communal riots. I was working with NDTV in those days and like several others from the media, I too had taken up position outside the room where Patkar was present. What followed was pure misuse of official machinery.

1983 batch IPS officer Shivanand Jha appointment order issued as the new DGP of Gujarat.@timesofindia pic.twitter.com/wd1eVizDuo — Kapil Dave (@KapildaveTOI) February 28, 2018

For some reason, the Police kept pushing us further behind Patkar’s room. Before anybody could guess, the news came that a mob led by BJP Yuva Morcha leaders had physically assaulted the activist. We tried to convince police officials that we need to be closer to the room to get visuals of the incident. Instead we found the Police pushing us further back which led to an argument with Deputy Commissioner of Police VM Pargi.

Before one could realise, the policemen were upon us and started beating us with lathis as Pargi’s strike force comprising of gun-toting commandoes joined in the melee. Many journalists were beaten black and blue while some were grievously injured including Dhimant Purohit (AajTak) and senior video journalist Pranav Joshi (NDTV) who had to be admitted to ICU after being hit on the head from close range. I saw Pranav lying on the floor and rushed towards Pargi to show him what his cops were doing, I was greeted with lathi blows from his team. We were left to fend for ourselves.

Just when all looked lost that Jha, the then Additional Commissioner of Police, entered the scene. Realising what was happening, he shouted to Pargi to restrain the cops. But Pargi seemed obsessed and oblivious to his senior’s orders. It was only when Jha, a fine athlete, himself blocked and body locked Pargi in a bear hug till he shook out of his stupor that the madness ended.

It is the sight of Jha physically stopping and stunning Pargi that refuses to die from my memory.