A video came to light on Monday and has gone viral on social media, in which policemen in Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun can be seen frisking motorcyclists at gunpoint.
Released by news agency ANI, the video purportedly shows policemen stopping people riding motorcycles in the Wazirganj area of the city. They ask the riders to get down and keep their hands up, else they will be shot.
The policemen are seen pointing a rifle and a revolver at the young men while their team members frisk them.
WATCH:
Police point gun at people during regular vehicle checking in Wazirganj, Badaun. (20.6.19) pic.twitter.com/N02fSAYwsx
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) June 24, 2019
Senior Superintendent of Police, Badaun, Ashok Kumar Tripathi has defended the action, describing it as a strategic move. “In the past, we have lost our resources during such checking when the riders take out their firearms and shoot at policemen. It is just a preventive measure,” he said.
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Members of civil society have questioned this claim of the SSP. Iqbal Ahmed, a social activist of Badaun, asked, “How can police do drill on common people? If they want to do such drill they must do it in a controlled environment. But this was clearly done to harass and intimidate people.”
Sanjay Kumar Singh, station house officer (SHO) of Wazirganj police station, said, “The checking was done as per the laid down procedure of tacking hostile situation. The intention of our personnel was not to intimidate anyone.”
(With agency inputs)