Shot fired as two UP constables fight over woman cop at thana

BAREILLY: Two constables, both in their mid-20s, got caught up in a heated argument on Monday night over one’s “affair” with a female colleague at the Baheri police station in Bareilly. Things turned ugly after one of them, Monu Kumar, picked up a service revolver and fired inside the station. “The bullet didn’t hit anyone. He was just firing in anger, not aiming at anyo ne,” a cop said. Five policemen, including the other constable, Yo gesh Chahal, an inspector (crime), and the SHO, were suspended for “indiscipline”. A probe was also ordered.
“If a policeman is involved in an affair with a colleague, it is his personal matter. Action has been taken only for negligence and on disciplinarygrounds,” SSP Satyarth Aniruddha Pankaj said. Kumar hails from Baghpat of UP and was posted at the Baheri police station in 2019. A woman constable from his neighbouring district of Muzaffarnagar joined the station earlier this year.
“Kumar and the woman constable had been in a relationship for the past year. As both of them are from different castes, constable Chahal passed snide comments about their relationship. Kumar and Chahal had an argument two days before the incident as well,” said a cop on the condition of anonymity.
Among those suspended was Manoj Kumar, in-charge of the armoury at the police sta tion, where Monu picked up the loaded pistol from. After firing, he put the gun back, left the police station, and went on leave.