UP shocker: Railway cops beat journalist, urinate in his mouth
A distressing video has emerged from Uttar Pradesh wherein a journalist was slapped, punched, and abused by a group of policemen who paid no attention to his pleas. The journalist, identified as Amit Sharma, was covering a train derailment story when railway cops showed their inhumane side. Sharma was stripped and cops urinated in his mouth. Are you paying attention, Yogi Adityanath?
Sharma was covering a story on train derailment
Sharma, who works as a stringer for TV channel News24, was in Shamli to cover a story. Two wagons of a goods train had derailed near Dhimanpura on Tuesday night. A team of railway police personnel headed by SHO Rakesh Kumar reached the spot and Sharma was also present there. Reportedly, an argument broke out after which the cops started thrashing him.
Cops locked Sharma, stripped him, urinated in his mouth
The unruly officers were dressed in plain clothes, revealed Sharma. The video which went viral on social media were shot by other local journalists. They claimed he was dragged to GRP station. "One hit my camera and it fell down. When I picked it up, they hit and abused me. I was locked up, stripped and they urinated in my mouth," Sharma added.
Shame: Journalist gets beaten up for doing his job
UP police suspended SHO Kumar and constable Sanjay Pawar
The multiple videos which surfaced on social media showed SHO Kumar beating the journalist. Sharma was released on Wednesday morning after other scribes protested at the station. As the video went viral, UP Police, which oversees Government Railway Police, stepped in. Subsequently, SHO Kumar and constable Sanjay Pawar were suspended. "Strict punishment shall be accorded to policemen misbehaving with citizens," tweeted UP Police.
Watch: Victim narrated the abuse he went through
Last week, UP Police arrested a journalist for 'defaming' Adityanath
This incident comes at a time when the UP government is already facing ire for ill treatment meted towards journalists. Just last week, a Delhi-based journalist Prashant Kanojia was arrested for 'defaming' Adityanath by posting a harmless video. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered his immediate release. Apart from Kanojia, four others were arrested for similar 'offenses'. Adityanath clearly needs to give some answers.
