Cop hits people in Chhattisgarh containment zone, videos go viral

The incident took place on Sunday morning in Birgaon area under Urla police station limits, which has been declared a containment zone after COVID-19 cases were reported from there in the last few days, a police official said.

One of the clips purportedly shows Urla Station House Officer (SHO) Nitin Upadhyay, in plainclothes, repeatedly hitting a boy, who was along with a woman said to be his mother, with a stick.

In other videos, he is seen beating motorcyclists in the area, the official said, adding that the videos were shot by passersby.

"We have taken note of the video which shows a TI (thana in charge) thrashing people with sticks. A departmental inquiry has been ordered against the concerned officer. A separate inquiry under Raipur Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) is also on," Raipur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Arif Sheikh told PTI.

The SSP said a coronavirus suspect had died on Sunday in Birgaon area, which is a containment zone, and police was requesting people there to stay indoors.

"When people did not adhere to containment guidelines, the concerned officer rushed there to prevent movement of people. However, the excesses committed by him are not acceptable," he added.

In a tweet, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said," This is inhuman and not acceptable. Departmental inquiry has been constituted and he (SHO) has been sent on leave."