In a disturbing incident in Uttar Pradesh's Etah district, two off-duty policemen were suspended after they allegedly chased and threatened two women on a scooter while driving a private car in an inebriated state. The incident occurred on Thursday evening on the busy GT Road under Kotwali Nagar police station limits.
Details of the Incident
The two women were returning home from a local market when a private car carrying sub-inspector Rahul Baliyan and head constable Dharmendra Singh began following them. The policemen were in plain clothes and off duty at the time. According to the victims, when they requested the car occupants to overtake once the road cleared, the men continued tailing them. Near a shopping mart, the car allegedly hit their scooter, after which the policemen misbehaved with them and threatened them, identifying themselves as police personnel.
Victim's Account
One of the victims recounted that during the argument, she managed to snatch the head constable's identity card. Onlookers, noticing the men were intoxicated, alerted the local police, who brought the two cops to the station. A video of the incident went viral on social media, prompting immediate action.
Official Action
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Elamaran G suspended both accused policemen on Friday after a preliminary inquiry. Additional SP Shwetabh Pandey confirmed that a prima facie inquiry was conducted following the viral video. The accused personnel claimed they had only signaled the women to stop because the women had allegedly made obscene gestures toward them. However, medical examinations confirmed that both cops were drunk at the time of the incident.
Reactions and Aftermath
The incident has sparked outrage, with demands for strict action against erring police personnel. The suspended officers are now facing departmental proceedings. The victims have been assured of a fair investigation. This case highlights the need for accountability within the police force, especially when off-duty personnel are involved in misconduct.
