Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
Ten policemen, including a Station House Officer (SHO), were suspended on Wednesday for allegedly trying to cover up a case of beef smuggling in Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Moradabad) Satpal Antil said that the police personnel were suspended following an internal probe that found that they buried the seized meat and hid the car in an attempt to cover up the beef smuggling incident.
The 10 suspended police personnel are SHO (Pakbada) Manoj Kumar, Chowki in-charge Anil Kumar, sub-inspectors Mahavir Singh and Taslim, head constables Bansat Kumar and Dhirendra Kasana, constables Mohit, Manish, and Rahul, and constable driver Sonu Saini.
They have been suspended under the provisions of Rule 17(1)(A) of the UP Subordinate Police Officers (punishment and appeal) Rules, 1991, on serious charge of gross negligence, arbitrariness, and inaction towards their duties, the Moradabad Police said.
“On Tuesday afternoon, we received information that no action was taken by police after they intercepted a vehicle carrying beef under the limits of the Pakbara Police station in Moradabad. By seeing the seriousness of the issue and in consideration of the prior directions, we formed a Special Operations Group (SOG) team to examine the issue,” said the SSP, adding that the probe team confirmed that the accused police personnel “failed to take appropriate action in the matter and instead tried to suppress it”.
According to police, a police team of UP-112 intercepted a “suspicious” Honda City car in the Umri Sabjipur forest area under Pakbada police station limits. “On inspection, large quantities of beef were allegedly found in the vehicle.
Instead of escalating the matter, the policemen allegedly dug a pit to bury the seized meat and moved the car to another location,” said the newly appointed SHO of Pakbada, Satender Singh, who assumed the charge on Wednesday.
Among those suspended, three belonged tothe UP-112 team.
“We have registered an FIR against unidentified men under the UP Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act. The men have been identified, but we will not be revealing the information,” the SHO said, adding the beef was being transported from Gajraula to Kundarki.
Meanwhile, SP (City) Kunwar Ranvijay Singh said efforts were being made to arrest the accused smugglers at the earliest.
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram