UP: Cops seen wearing plastic stool and basket cover as anti-riot gear, 4 including SHO suspended

Lucknow: Four cops including an inspector were suspended after Uttar Pradesh director general of police (DGP), HC Awasthi reacted strongly to a clip showing a cop 'wearing' a plastic stool as a helmet and another with a basket cover as a shield went viral on Thursday.

DGP Awasthi also summoned a detailed report in this regard from the Superintendent of Police in Unnao besides ordering a probe into the matter. Interestingly, Samajwadi Party chief and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav took a jibe sharing the clip and questioning the preparation of the UP police to counter eventuality. 

According to police report, the incident took place on Wednesday when residents of Akrampur in Unnao staged a protest over the death of two youth in a road accident by using the bodies to block the road. The police team - riot police and other security forces, some of whom were armed, reached the spot to disperse the protestors but the situation spiralled out of control and the villagers began pelting stones at the cops. It is gathered that as many as 18 policemen were injured in the vandalism.

Amid the tension and violence, one four-second clip showing a cop 'wearing' a plastic stool as a helmet and another with a basket cover as a shield was soon widely shared online on Thursday. In the video the cop is seen holding the stool with one hand and brandishing his lathi as he and his colleagues try to restore order.

Other clips showed a fierce clash between the police and villagers with stones pelting each other. Villagers have occupied one side of the main road. Yet another clip shows armed cops as their associates thrash villagers with their sticks.

The viral image finally caught the attention of State DGP who demanded an explanation from the Unnao SP on the issue while suspending a Station House Office (SHO). UP Police posted a statement on Twitter saying an explanation has been sought from local officials. “An elaborate SOP and sufficient riot gear have been given to all districts to deal with any Law and Order situation. In a Law and Order situation in Unnao, despite intelligence input, the force was ill-equipped, for which the DGP has sought explanation of the SP and, at the local level, the SHO has been suspended,” UP Police said.

Meanwhile, Lucknow Range inspector general Lakshmi Singh tweeted that Kotwali Sadar Inspector in-charge Dinesh Mishra, police outpost in-charge of Magarwara, and two constables (one wearing a plastic stool and other a basket) have been suspended for laxity and incompetence.

A clarification has been sought from the CO City, and the investigation of the entire case has been given to the Rae Bareli additional superintendent of police, the IG said. According to local people, the police team was outnumbered and ill-equipped to handle the mob. The situation came under control after additional forces arrived at the spot. Forty three people have been arrested, and a case has been registered against 100 named and 250 unknown persons in connection with the violence that took place on Wednesday, Superintendent of Police Anand Kulkarni said. (UNI)