3 cops suspended for clashing with UP tourists in Salem

CHENNAI: Three cops attached to Prohibition Enforcement Wing (PEW) were placed under suspension by Salem Superintendent of Police Gautam Goyal in connection with a clash with tourists from Uttar Pradesh at a check post in Salem.

A group of over 30 tourists were proceeding to Karnataka, when they were stopped at Karaikadu check post near Mettur on December 27. Three constables Senthil Kumar, Suganeshwaran and Mutharasan stopped the bus for a check.

Eventually, a quarrel broke out between them and escalated into a clash. Bus driver Sivarayanan (52) and cleaner Ajay (20) were booked for attacking the cops. Based on a counter-complaint, the three cops were also booked for assaulting the tourists.

Following an inquiry, the SP suspended the three cops on Sunday.

In another incident, a 35-year-old cop attached to Omalur police station has been suspended by Gautam Goyal for misbehaving with a woman in Salem.

A 28-year-old woman from Kallakurichi was waiting for a bus with her two children at Salem's new bus stand to board a bus to Tirupur to visit her parent’s house. Then, Kalaiarasan (35), a cop with Omalur police station approached the victim and asked her to accompany him for an inquiry in connection with the theft of a two-wheeler.

“Even though she claimed ignorance, the cop grabbed her hand and pulled the woman,” police said. Based on her complaint, the Pallapatti police registered a case and as an inquiry report by the department confirmed his offence. The SP placed him under suspension on Sunday.