Asked To Pay For Food At Dhaba, UP Cops Allegedly Frame 10 People In 'Fake Encounter'

An investigation has been ordered to look into allegations that cops in UP¡¯s Etah district got involved in a squabble at a ¡®dhaba¡¯ over paying for the food they ate and then ¡°falsely implicated¡± and arrested 10 people, including the owner¡¯s brother and eight customers, as per a TOI report.

The eatery owner, Praveen Kumar Yadav, claimed on February 4 that two policemen, who were on duty, refused to pay Rs 400 bill.

What happened?

¡°They were offering only Rs 80. My elder brother requested them to pay at least Rs 200. Some of the customers also asked them to pay the bill. Following an argument, the policemen started beating my brother. They were drunk and threatened to send us to jail,¡± he said.

TOI

Yadav said that after the argument, constables Santosh Kumar and Shailendra Kumar left the eatery at Agra Road.

¡°Soon, around 15 policemen arrived in three vehicles. They pointed guns and took my brother and cousin along with eight costumers to Kotwali Dehat police station and registered an FIR against them. Policemen spared me because I am physically-challenged and the court would have raised questions on the encounter story,¡± Yadav claimed.

Praveen¡¯s elder brother Pushpendra, cousin Deepak and eight customers are in jail since then.

TOI

What the FIR says

In an FIR registered at Kotwali Dehat police station, it was alleged that the 10 people were part of a gang and were hatching a plan for loot. Police also claimed that they were held following an encounter. In the recovery, local police showed six illegal weapons, 80-litre illicit liquor and 2kg contraband.

Now, the district magistrate of Etah, Vibha Chahal, has ordered a probe into the entire incident.

Additional director general (ADG) Rajeev Krishna also said, ¡°I have taken cognizance of the entire matter. SSP Etah has been asked to pursue it. Investigation will be ensured in a time bound manner. Strict action will be taken against policemen found guilty.¡±