3 SHOs removed, 4 cops suspended for 'supporting' arrested colleagues

Three SHOs have been removed, four constables suspended and two ex-policemen arrested as the Uttar Pradesh police cracked down on social media protests from within the force over the action taken against two constables who allegedly shot dead an Apple executive here last week.

Pictures on social media show police personnel wearing black armbands in support of their colleagues who were arrested after the tech company executive was shot dead when he refused to stop his car for checking, reports PTI.

Incharges of Naka, Gudamba and Aliganj police stations in the state capital were removed and three constables posted there suspended on Friday. A departmental probe is on, DIG (Law and Order) Praveen Kumar told reporters here.

The photographs of constables of the three police stations went viral on social media, after which officers swung into action. They, however, did not confirm whether the photographs were current or old.

On Thursday, former constables, Brijendra Yadav and Avinash Pathak, dismissed from service earlier in different cases, have been arrested from Varanasi and Mirzapur, while a policeman, Sarvesh Chowdhury, posted in Raebareli has been suspended over the same issue, police said.

An FIR has also been registered against Sarvesh Chowdhury for posting an 11minute video in which he purportedly claims that he had offered and has been collecting money for the two constables accused in the killing of the Apple executive. He is also seen taking swipes at political leaders and top police officials.

Officials said a probe has been ordered into reports that constables were posting their pictures with black armbands on in support of their two accused colleagues, and that action would be taken against those found involved in such acts.

Vivek Tiwari, the Apple executive, was shot dead early on September 29 when he allegedly refused to stop his car for checking in Lucknow's posh Gomti Nagar neighbourhood.