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Four cops, including an inspector, were suspended after DGP HC Awasthi reacted strongly to a video clip showing a cop ‘wearing’ a plastic stool as a helmet and another holding a wooden basket cover as a shield went viral on social media Thursday.
Awasthi sought a detailed report in this regard from the Unnao SP besides ordering a probe into the matter. Interestingly, Samajwadi Party chief and former CM Akhilesh shared the clip and questioned the preparations of the UP Police to deal with an eventuality.  
According to reports, the incident took place on Wednesday when residents of Akrampur in Unnao staged a protest over the death of two youths in a road accident. The police team, including riot police and other security forces — some of whom were armed — reached the spot to disperse the protesters but the situation spiralled out of control and the villagers indulged in stone-pelting. Reports said that 18 policemen were injured.
Amidst the violence, a four-second clip showing a cop ‘wearing’ a plastic stool as a helmet and another holding a wooden basket cover as a shield was widely shared on social media on Thursday.
Other clips showed a fierce clash between the police and villagers. The villagers had occupied one side of the main road. Yet another clip showed cops thrashing villagers with batons.
The viral video caught the attention of the DGP who demanded an explanation from the Unnao SP and suspended an SHO. The UP Police posted a statement on Twitter, saying an explanation has been sought from local officials.
“Elaborate SOP and sufficient riot gear have been given to all districts to deal with any eventuality. Despite intelligence inputs in Unnao, the police force was ill-equipped, for which the DGP sought an explanation from the officers concerned,” the 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 have been suspended for laxity and incompetence. A clarification has been sought from the CO and the investigation has been given to the Rae Bareli ASP, the IG said.
Locals said the cops were outnumbered by the protesters  and the situation was brought under control after additional force reached the spot. As many as 43 people have been arrested and a case has been registered against 100 named and 250 unnamed people in connection with the violence that took place on Wednesday, SP Anand Kulkarni said.