Cop seen 'mixing ash' in bhandara food at Maha Kumbh
What's the story
A police officer in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, has been suspended after a viral video purportedly showed him mixing ash into food at a community feast during the Maha Kumbh Mela.
The officer in question is Station House Officer (SHO) Brijesh Kumar Tiwari of Soraon police station.
In the video, the police officer can be seen adding ash to the food being prepared and walking away.
The video quickly went viral, and was even shared by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
Twitter Post
Watch the video here
ये दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है कि जो लोग महाकुंभ में फँसे लोगों के लिए भोजन-पानी की व्यवस्था कर रहे है उनके सद्प्रयासों के ऊपर राजनीतिक विद्वेषवश मिट्टी डाल दी जा रही है।
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) January 30, 2025
जनता संज्ञान ले! pic.twitter.com/LTwwKbBwO5
Official response
DCP confirms suspension, departmental proceedings initiated
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ganga Nagar, Kuldeep Singh Gunawat, confirmed Tiwari's suspension on the basis of a report by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Soraon.
Responding to a user on microblogging platform X who demanded strict action against Tiwari for his "shameful act," the DCP's official account wrote: "Taking cognizance of the matter...the Soraon SHO has been suspended based on a report from ACP Soraon. Departmental proceedings are underway."
Incident background
Unauthorized feast and officer's alleged retaliation
According to reports, the community feast, or bhandara, was organized without police permission near Bhavapur Toll Plaza Road.
Locals had arranged meals for devotees after seeing many were walking hungry and thirsty toward the Sangam area.
Reports suggest that SHO Tiwari was upset about this unauthorized gathering and allegedly added ash to a vessel of food when locals refused to vacate the area.