UP cops turn police post into bar, suspended

Paying for party

Tipplers walking on one of the busiest roads in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad district, about 350 km from here, were pleasantly surprised when they were offered liquor free of cost by none other than the cops at the police outpost. However, the revelry, which caused embarrassment to the senior officers, has resulted in the suspension of three policemen.

The cops, who were celebrating Holi, turned the Budh Bazar police outpost under Kotwali police station in the district into a virtual bar. They offered liquor to every one, even children. Law enforcers also sang and danced to sleazy Bollywood numbers as people watched. The matter came to light when a passer-by recorded the scene at the outpost in his cell phone and gave it to some local TV channels.

The footage, that caused huge embarrassment to the senior police officials here, showed the drunk cops offering liquor to children. The revelry continued for several hours, according to the eyewitness accounts. Taking a serious note of the matter, the government suspended three policemen and ordered a probe.

A more or less similar scene was enacted at the Police Lines in Muzaffarnagar town also where the cops, including women cops, had organized a party and also called a DJ on the occasion though it was not allowed as per the rules.

Six police personnel were suspended after a probe. “It is an act of indiscipline which will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” senior officers said. Barely a few days ago, the cops had literally closed a police station in Muzaffarnagar district while celebrating the birthday of the station house in-charge. The lavish liquor party resulted in the complainants being told to come next day.  SHO R N Singh, who had thrown the party for his subordinates at Kandhla police station, was later suspended.

The UP Police have drawn flak in the past for their disregard for human rights and for conniving with the mighty while implicating innocent people.