An image showing a head constable and a constable using a plastic chair and a cane basket (tokri) instead of proper safety gear to protect themselves from stone pelting went viral. The policemen were using such trivial items to guard themselves from a mob protesting against the death of two persons in a road accident in Unnao. Following this, the district police chief has suspended four uniformed personnel, including the local police station in-charge and the two policemen seen in the photograph.

On Thursday, State Director General of Police (DGP) Hitesh Chandra Awasthy said that such a casual approach in engaging an aggressive mob may expose the personnel to high risk. DGP Awasthy also sought an explanation from Unnao police on why the force was ill-equipped to handle the mob despite having prior intelligence.

Also Read: Gaps in Police reforms in India- only committees and nearly no action

As per police sources, Additional SP, Rae Bareli, Vishwajeet Srivastava has been asked to probe why the police were ill-prepared to deal with the mob.

Earlier, Unnao SP Anand Rao Kulkarni said that after learning of the incident, he suspended Kotwali SHO Dinesh Chandra Mishra, Magarwara outpost in-charge Akhilesh Kumar and head constable Vijay Kumar.

In the picture, Vijay Kumar can be seen holding a plastic chair over his head to protect himself along with constable Ram Ashrey, who is seen shielding himself with a cane basket. Over this matter, a clarification has also been sought from Circle Officer (City), Kripa Shankar.

Earlier on Thursday, Kulkarni said, “Yesterday (Wednesday), two people died in a road accident at Devikheda village in Kotwali police station area. A post-mortem examination was conducted on the victims. Later, on the pretext of taking the bodies for cremation, locals came out on the road and blocked it. The local SDM and the CO reached the spot and ensured proper police deployment. Even as the police were trying to convince the locals to clear the road for traffic, some of them resorted to stone pelting. Our men did the needful by removing the locals from the spot. About 43 persons have been arrested on the evidence of the image and an FIR has also been registered against them.”

Also Read: The need of more women in Indian police in an age of rising crime

The mob had reportedly demanded Rs 20 lakh as compensation for the next-of-kin of the dead. Subsequently, when the police reached the spot to pacify them, they started pelting stones at them, resulting in injuries to a few personnel. After senior officers reached the spot, the situation was brought under control.

Samajwadi Party chief and former UP-chief minister Akhilesh Yadav shared the image of the ill-equipped policemen on Twitter, as the images went viral.

ASP Srivastava confirmed that he had been asked to probe the mob incident by IG Luckow (Range) Laxmi Singh. He further said that the probe will mainly focus on why the policemen were ill-prepared despite prior information.

Meanwhile, DGP Awasthy claimed that in all 75 districts a detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) is in place to deal with any violation of law and order and sufficient riot gear has been provided to personnel.