Police Sergeant Exonerated in Hindu Procession Incident

An independent inquiry has exonerated a police sergeant from Leicester, who gained international attention due to religious strife, of any wrongdoing. Following an incident where Sergeant Adam Ahmed halted a Hindu procession and apprehended a community figure, a petition demanding his suspension garnered thousands of signatures. This event took place on Belgrave Road in Leicester in September 2023, coinciding with the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. The occurrence led to heated accusations and rebuttals concerning religious bias between Hindu and Muslim communities within the city. Viral social media footage depicted rising tensions when Sgt Ahmed, identified as Muslim, intercepted a contingent of Hindu devotees. Dharmesh Lakhani, a local leader, confronted the officer, stating repeatedly, “do not touch our priest”. Subsequently, Mr. Lakhani was observed in handcuffs, having been taken into custody on suspicion of assaulting an emergency services employee. The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) has now finalized its inquiry into the grievances lodged against Sgt Ahmed. According to the IOPC, Sgt Ahmed was attempting to ascertain if the procession possessed the required authorization, and his application of force during the arrest was deemed “necessary, proportionate and reasonable”. A spokesperson for the IOPC stated, “We concluded that the officer balanced his actions and decisions between maintaining public order and safety, ensuring compliance with the law, and ultimately took a proportionate approach.” The investigators reported that their findings did not suggest Sgt Ahmed had committed any criminal offense or acted in a manner warranting disciplinary measures. The spokesperson further explained, “Bodyworn footage indicated that there was physical contact as the officer guided along one of the procession organisers while walking with a large group of people near the road. We took the view that this contact was reasonable in the circumstances.” This confrontation generated news coverage internationally, including in India, where it was featured on TV rolling news channels. The incident occurred nearly a year to the exact date following significant unrest outside the identical temple on Belgrave Road in Leicester. That prior event saw hundreds of predominantly Hindu and Muslim young men confronting each other across police barricades. This sparked a nationwide discussion regarding community tensions in Leicester, and an independent review commissioned by the former government is anticipated to release its findings next year. Furthermore, the IOPC dismissed allegations that Sgt Ahmed showed partiality against the group due to their Hindu faith. The IOPC stated, “In our opinion, there was no evidence to indicate the officer’s actions were due to any religious differences with the attendees.” The inquiry determined that certain comments made by Sgt Ahmed might be perceived as disrespectful, “but not at a level of misconduct”. The IOPC reported that Leicestershire Police consented to Sgt Ahmed addressing this by participating in the “reflective practice review” process. Sgt Ahmed, who appeared in the BBC TV series Fresh Cops, publicly responded to the complaints against him in a social media post for Islamophobia Awareness Month. On LinkedIn, he expressed being profoundly affected by what he termed an online “smear campaign”. He asserted that a “torrent of baseless attacks” evolved into “a case filled with Islamophobic and racial abuse”. Sgt Ahmed further stated that his experiences demonstrated that Islamophobia and racism are “real, impactful, and painful”. Rupert Matthews, Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, declined an interview request but issued the subsequent statement. He commented, “The IOPC’s findings confirm that this officer conducted his duties correctly, following force policy and with impartiality.” Matthews added, “I am pleased to see that there is no blemish on his record, as no-one should be castigated for undertaking their job responsibly, in order to keep people safe.” He concluded, “The IOPC is, as the name states, independent. I hope that this outcome reassures the public that Leicestershire officers act professionally and with the public interest at heart.” Leicestershire Police indicated that “some learning for the officer has now been delivered,” while affirming that Sgt Ahmed’s actions were proportionate and consistent with departmental protocols. Dharmesh Lakhani, the community leader whose apprehension initiated the inquiry, informed the BBC that he was never formally charged with any criminal offense. Lakhani stated, “I want an apology. And I want my DNA and fingerprints scrubbed [removed].” He further remarked, “They have swept it under the carpet. It’s the police marking the police.” Mr. Lakhani mentioned he is currently seeking legal counsel regarding the possibility of pursuing a civil claim against the Leicestershire police force. For updates, follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 0808 100 2210. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.