UP cop suspended after audio clip goes viral

The Uttar Pradesh Government has suspended a Station House Officer after an eight-minute audio clip between a top criminal in Jhansi and police officer went viral where the cop was heard suggesting the criminal to get in touch with BJP leaders otherwise “he could be killed in an encounter.”

The conversation, which went viral in social media, is between Lekhraj Yadav a criminal in Bundelkhand facing charges of murder, kidnapping and extortion and Sunit Kumar Singh, Inspector in Mauranipur police station in Jhansi.

When the clip went viral UP Government immediately suspended the Inspector and sent the audio clip for forensic test to know the “exact truth behind this conversation.”

In that conversation the police inspector was heard asking the criminal to get in touch with local BJP leader and get it managed otherwise he would be killed in an encounter. “You are a fit case for encounter as there are 60 cases against you … you are on the top list of police officers. I have given you a suggestion … get in touch with BJP leaders and get the things managed,” the inspector was heard telling the criminal.

During conversation police inspector took the names of Sanjay Dubey, who is District President of BJP and a law maker from Babina Rajiv Singh Paricha as if suggesting the criminal to meet them.

The criminal during the conversation repeatedly said that cases against him were false. “You know these are false … Supreme Court and High Court cannot order enquiry on false cases,” the criminal said.

Yadav is currently out on bail.

Lekhraj Yadav claims he recorded his conversation with the policeman on Friday. When that evening an attempt was made to kill him in an encounter, Yadav released the clip to the media and soon it went viral.

The cop in that conversation was heard saying that it is changed regime. “You had gone to jail in Samajwadi Party government too. The government has changed so as the system. Now, everyone from top officers including special forces are part of it (encounter spree). You are smart man and know what I am saying,” the Inspector was heard saying.

There is a series of encounters in Uttar Pradesh since Yogi Government came to power. The police has so far carried over 2000 encounters in which 47 criminals have been killed and over 500 injured.  Police claim that over 6000 criminals have surrendered.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has defended police action saying the people will be given reply in the language they understand. The National Human Rights Commission has taken an affront to the language used by Yogi.