By Anil Raturi
It was January 1989. I was a young Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP),undergoing practical training in one of the bigger districts of UP.
In a few days,the Republic Day (26th January) ceremonial parade was to be held at the Police Lines.
The District was also the headquarters of IG Police (Zone),Divisional Commissioner and DIGP Range,all of whom used to witness the parade.Other prominent citizens of the district also used to be invited to the function.
The parade, being an important occasion, rehearsals for it used to begin many days before the event.
Mr ” A ” a regular ASP ( a year senior to me in the IPS) was designated as the Commander for the parade. I was notified as the
“Second-in-Command,” while, Mr ” B” an under training, Deputy Superintendent of Police ( DSP– an officer of Provincial Police Service) was to be the Adjutant of the parade.
Incidentally, during the same period,”Kumbh Mela” was also happening at Prayagraj (then called Allahabad ).
A lot of State Police resources from various districts were being sent to Prayagraj for augmenting Mela Police duties. From the district of my posting, too, many Police personnel, along with all the Police horses, were sent to Prayagraj for Kumbh duty.
Only three stallions of the Mounted Police were not sent to Prayagraj, as they being temperamental were considered unfit for policing at the Kumbh.
It had been a standing practice that while the various contingents on the parade marched on foot, the Parade Commander, Second-in-Command, and the Adjutant were traditionally mounted on horseback.
Rehearsals began in earnest on a cold winter morning. The Mounted Police staff provided us ( Mr “A” the ASP, Mr “B” the DSP and me ) a horse each from the only three that were available in the stables. The steeds were big and tall thoroughbreds who were generally roguish by nature. They had given a difficult time even to their trainers. Because of their temperament, they were rarely sent out on routine mounted duties.
However, as there were no other horses available, we were compelled to make do with them. We put our heart and soul into the parade. In saddle, with ceremonial swords in the right hand, we had a difficult time controlling our unruly mounts by pulling the reigns with the other free hand. Our hands were almost frozen in the cold of the winter morning.
After the parade had marched past the dais, it returned to the alignment for ” harsh fire” ( “हर्ष फायर”- celebratory firing of “blank rounds”– i.e. gunpowder filled cartridges without bullets).The ” blank rounds” ( cartridges without bullets) when fired from the Lee Enfield.303 rifles, used to make a loud explosion similar to the sound of firing actual bullets.
Due to the scarcity of “blank rounds,” it was customary to give them only twice to the parade. Once on the day of dress rehearsal and the second time on the day of the function itself.
On remaining days, the parade was expected to do “dry practice” by bolting the rifles (without loading any rounds) and pulling the trigger in mock firing.
The parade contingents were formed in columns of threes.On command, the troops bolted their rifles. Then,the jawans of each line,one by one in succession, pulled their triggers for mock firing. This was followed by the band playing the short national anthem.
All along the course of the parade, the horses had been restless. We had somehow managed to keep them steady. However, on hearing the sound of hundreds of rifle bolts and firing pins behind them, our horses became anxious and turned back to look at the parade!
All three of us were reasonably good riders, but despite all our efforts, we could not coax the horses to turn towards the dais. With alert ears, they stubbornly continued to look at the rear of the parade in consternation!
Concerned at the odd spectacle, wherein, instead of facing ahead, our horses were staring towards the rear of the parade, we three ( Mr”A”,Mr”B” and me), after the rehearsal, sat down to discuss some remedy. It was decided that we should give the horses some time to adjust to the various sounds of the parade.
However, despite all our efforts to rectify, their odd behaviour still persisted. After three consecutive days of rehearsals, we thought it appropriate to bring the matter to the notice of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).
We told him that the three horses were not fit for parade. We also told him that insisting with them could lead to an embarrassing situation and therefore, it would be prudent to allow the three officers to march on foot like the rest of the parade. Having heard our peculiar problem, the SSP, with both amusement and anger in his voice, said,
” It is a tradition to have officers on horseback.How can I allow you to break this tradition just because you people are incompetent riders!”
Realising our discomfiture, we pleaded with him to come and see the rehearsal the next day, before taking the final call on the subject. Initially he was reluctant to accept our proposal, however, on our insistence, he finally agreed to see the rehearsal the next day.
The next day, the SSP, too, witnessed the strange behaviour of the horses. Realising the gravity of the situation,it was decided that all of us should at that very moment go and apprise the DIG Range and seek his approval, to do away with the horses.
The DIG (who later rose to become a distinguished DGP of UP) was a classical and conservative Police officer.
Having heard the SSP’s narration (with us three in attendance),the DIG with annoyance in his voice said,
“I think nowadays officers have become softies who can’t even control their horses! How can we expect them to control districts of millions of people?! I will not allow a parade with officers marching on foot! It’s just not done!”
Just when we thought that the DIG would not relent,the SSP said to the DIG,
” Sir, please see the parade rehearsal once before deciding.”
We were surprised and relieved when he agreed to come and see the rehearsal.
The following day, the Police Lines was spruced up, and all the personnel came to the parade in their best uniforms. It became a full “dress rehearsal” with the DIG taking salute.
All of us were trying to perform to the best of our ability. Post the march past, the parade once again came back to the alignment for the tricky “harsh fire.”
On the Parade Commanders voice command “round bhar!” the personnel opened their rifle bolts .The horses were intelligent. In the past few days they had become familiar with the commands of the parade and knew exactly when the rifles made noise from behind. Like on previous occasions, anticipating the moment, they turned back to face the parade!
From the dais, the DIG could observe us, desperately though in vain, trying to manoeuvre our horses.
Until that day, the personnel had not been given “blank rounds.” for the ” harsh fire.” The parade had only been doing “dry practice.”
On that day, as the DIG was reviewing the parade, the Reserve Inspector distributed actual “blank rounds” to the parade personnel. When the Parade Commander’s voice called out “fire!” Loud blasting gunfire sounds began reverberating all around the parade ground!
The steeds were already anxious, hearing the blasts (to our and everyone else’s dismay), they took off (along with their riders) from the ground in a mighty gallop!
They ran towards the main road outside the Police Lines. All three of us had been quite good at riding during our training.
However, despite our best effort, we could not prevent the horses from galloping! We went past the Police Lines gate on to the main road. There the city traffic was in full sway. The DSP’s horse was leading the gallop! Just when we reached the main road, a three-wheeler came by. The DSP’s horse, being in full momentum, jumped over the three-wheeler!
In the process, Mr ” B” ( the DSP) got dislodged and fell into the dirty water of the adjoining canal!
My horse and the other ASP’s horse were also galloping on the main road!Seeing the canal, both our horses jumped across it.We somehow managed to remain in saddle when the horses landed on the other side of the canal!
Meanwhile, all the officers and men of the Police department were running helter-skelter after the bolting horses! The civilians on the main road too, were at a loss about what was going on!
Fortunately, Mr ” B” (the DSP) despite the fall in the canal (apart from some superficial injuries) was alright! Mired in the slush of the dirty canal,he walked out without any assistance!
He emerged out of the canal, affected more by the psychological trauma of the episode rather than any injury! With some tremor in his voice he said, “I’m never going to sit on that horse again!”
Meanwhile, the shocked DIG had also reached the Police Lines gate. Relieved that no one had sustained any serious injuries and hearing the ultimatum of the DSP, he spontaneously exclaimed, ” Yes! No horses on this parade!”
About author: Anil Raturi is a retired IPS officer who also served as DGP Uttarakhand