In pics: Jawans at Gateway forced to sleep on pavement

In what can only be termed as a shameful act, the SRPF jawans, meant to protect the Taj hotel, victim of the devastating 26/11 attacks on Mumbai, were thrown out of their accomodation, the Gateway of India by the Colaba police station cops on Thursday.

These actions followed right after the media reported on how these jawans, instead of being given proper accomodation, were asked to stay at the Gateway of India. (NDTV Photo)

Through this photo gallery we also bring you the comments of netizens who are enraged by the way government and police have handled this situation.

Goverdhan says, "Hello NDTV I am a former Army Officer. Thank you very much for this article. I will be very grateful if you can do more of this. What you have shown is the norm - and then we wonder why people do not join the security forces and why things go wrong. God bless the journalist who came up with this story and the editor for approving it."

The government and local police reacted in the most insensitive and callous manner by throwing these jawans and their belonging out on the roads. Giving up the tents they were staying in earlier, the jawans had to spend the night on the pavement.

Sarth says, "Great job @ndtv for highlighting this. Make it a frontline news. Our netas need a push else they stop functioning.

The police wrapped up the belonging of the jawans and loaded it onto their vans. Despite protests by the jawans, they were asked to manage on the pavement for Thursday night.

“How are we at fault on being given the Gateway of India as accomodation? We realise the importance of this heritage structure. Why wasn’t another accomodation arranged for us before throwing us out on the roads like this? We are serving our country and this is how we get treated,” said an angry jawan.

NJ says, "Our Government must recoginize them as Martyrs or National Heroes and Honour them for their remarkable bravery, they have earned respect fighting to maintain the peace and integrity of our nation.

On Thursday, Mumbai's Police Commissioner, D Sivanandan gave NDTV a predictable response: "We will look into the matter and take appropriate action."

Arun says, "Indian Politicians will never honour/respect the Police, Amrmed Forces or for that matter the common public. I would suggest that if any one needs to become a politician, his son or daughter must be enrolled in the Police or in the Armed Forces. I am surprised why Mr. Raj Thackeray is keeping quite. Is he afraid to face the guns?"

State home minister R R Patil who visited the site, was enraged at the way police had handled the situation and had ordered tents to be provided for the jawans. But despite his promises, the jawans had to spend the night on the pavement.

Aarti says, "It is a matter of such shame, forget respect we don't even acknowledge the jawans who risk their lives to make sure we sleep peacefully."

The jawans have been promised that they will be moved to another location on Friday. But till now, no action has been taken.

Sas says, "India has never honoured them and will never honour them except for an eye wash on 26 Jan. We pay them less , we give them filthy conditions , no special priveleges and give them a worst rifle to fight assuming they will fight with their guts and not guns. Last of all, we consider them second class citizens . It is only poor and jobless who go in these services and the mind set of our policymakers towards them will never improve."