Chhattisgarh cop seen thrashing people in viral video, sent on leave

A departmental inquiry was constituted against Urla Station House Officer (SHO) Nitin Upadhyay and was sent on leave after video of him thrashing people for reportedly violating containment zone guidelines in Chhattisgarh capital Raipur went viral on social media. One of the clips purportedly shows Urla Station House Officer (SHO) Nitin Upadhyay, in plainclothes, repeatedly hitting a boy, who was along with a woman said to be his mother, with a stick.

Raipur:Videos showing a policeman thrashing people for reportedly violating containment zone guidelines in Chhattisgarh capital Raipur went viral on social media, prompting authorities on Monday to order an inquiry and send the officer on leave. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel also took note of the incident and described it as "inhuman" in a tweet.

The incident took place on Sunday morning in Birgaon area under Urla police station limits, which has been declared a containment zone after COVID-19 cases were reported from there in the last few days.

One of the clips purportedly shows Urla Station House Officer (SHO) Nitin Upadhyay, in plainclothes, repeatedly hitting a boy, who was along with a woman said to be his mother, with a stick.

In other videos, he is seen beating motorcyclists in the area, the official said, adding that the videos were shot by passersby.

"We have taken note of the video which shows a TI (thana in charge) thrashing people with sticks. A departmental inquiry has been ordered against the concerned officer. A separate inquiry under Raipur Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) is also on," Raipur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Arif Sheikh told reporters.

The SSP said a coronavirus suspect had died on Sunday in the Birgaon area, which is a containment zone, and police were requesting people there to stay indoors.

"When people did not adhere to containment guidelines, the concerned officer rushed there to prevent the movement of people. However, the excesses committed by him are not acceptable," he added.

With PTI inputs