Meerut: Cops issue restaurant notice to submit ‘missing’ CCTV recorder

Last Friday, S-I Sukhpal Panwar and a woman lawyer arrived at the restaurant on the Delhi-Dehradun Highway around 11.30 pm. Police said they were both inebriated and scuffled with the waiter. While Panwar was seen (in a video) slapping the waiter, the woman took out a pistol and aimed it towards the staff, a police officer had claimed.

The staff then allegedly contacted councillor Chaudhary, who also owns the restaurant, who argued with the lawyer and the sub-inspector. While the policeman allegedly continued to abuse the staff, Manish slapped the officer thrice because of which the latter fell to the ground. While Meerut police arrested Chaudhary, S-I Panwar was transferred to police lines.

“Law and order has nose-dived during the regime of Yogi Adityanath. Such is the situation in that police officers are being beaten up openly. Government servants are feeling insecure during the BJP regime, which has made tall claims about improving law and order…,” said SP leader Ram Govind Chaudhary.

While BJP leaders had met Meerut SSP Akhilesh Kumar on Sunday, demanding that the sub-inspector and the lawyer be booked as well, an RLD delegation met Kumar Tuesday afternoon and demanded an “unbiased inquiry”. “We will not tolerate any police action like lodging of FIR against the cop under pressure from BJP leaders. The morale of the police is at its lowest following the incident. Such incidents are not good for society. Anti-social elements will try to overpower police, especially after the Friday incident,” said RLD district chief Rahul Dev.