UP: Cops chase, rain lathis on trader in Agra; two suspended

AGRA: Two policemen were suspended by Agra police chief, after the duo were caught in CCTV camera for chasing and assaulting a local trader with baton outside his house, as the victim who was without helmet and mask on his two-wheeler, made an U-turn from check-point seeing policemen.
The incident occurred at around 9am in a residential area of C Block, Kamlanagar under New Agra police limits on Wednesday. The injured trader was identified as Rakesh Gupta (55), while the suspended cops were identified as constable Rakesh Sharma and Dinesh of Cheetah mobile force, who were given the duty to keep a tab on the movement of local residents at Shreeram intersection amid lockdown.

In the video, the two constables on their police motor-bike were found chasing Rakesh Gupta to his house and rain baton while confronting him. Rakesh was not wearing helmet and mask while riding two-wheeler.
SSP Agra Babloo Kumar said, “This kind of behaviour is not acceptable. Both cops have been suspended.”
Speaking to TOI, Dr Sanjay Gupta, the younger cousin of victim said, “Rakesh Gupta had went to a nearby grocery to buy bread for breakfast. He just had traveled 50 meters on his two-wheeler, when he saw the cops at check-point. He made U-turn after seeing policemen, this provoked the cops and they chased him down to home.”
“As soon Rakesh Gupta reached at house door, the cops behind him alighted from the motor-bike and started raining lathi instead of questioning him for whatever unintentional violation Rakesh did,” said the neurologist.
Talking to TOI, station house officer Umesh Chandra Tripathi of New Agra said, “Rakesh Gupta’s house is not 50 meters but much farther away from Shreeram chouraha where policemen were on duty. After seeing policemen, he attempted to escape like a thief and took an U-turn, after which constable Rakesh Sharma tried to stop his vehicle from behind and grabbed rear metal handle of the two-wheeler. The constable persistently asked Rakesh Gupta to stop the vehicle, but he pulled the cop for at least 25 meters along his two-wheeler.”
“There was also exchange of offensive slur between Rakesh Gupta and cops while he was being chased. Rakesh acted like a thief and made the two cops chase him in the streets of residential area,” added SHO.
SP City Agra, Rohan Botre said, “After detailed investigation of the incident, I’ll submit the report to SSP Agra for further action.”
Meanwhile, local trader association has demanded medical examination of Rakesh Gupta and FIR against the two constables.