3 Meerut cops suspended for concealing gun recovery from scooter

Meerut (UP): Three policemen were suspended for allegedly failing to reveal the recovery of a country-made pistol from the scooter of a plumber, a senior officer said on Friday.

Head constable Chaubey Singh, Constable Omveer Singh, and Constable (driver) Anil Kumar -- all posted at Kithore Police Station -- were suspended on charges of laxity in discharge of their duties, Senior Superintendent of Police Rohit Singh Sajwan said.

The three had on Thursday recovered a country-made pistol from a scooter parked at the house of one Firoz, a local plumber.

Sajwan said the three did not inform their seniors about the recovery nor carried out the procedure as per law, which shows laxity in discharge of duty on their part, and also tarnishes the image of the police department.

Firoz had on Thursday accused police of planting a gun inside his scooter with the purpose of extorting money from him.

Police checked the CCTV and dismissed his allegation as false.

According to Firoz, on Wednesday night, three policemen came outside his house and called out his name. He was not there so his mother came out. The policemen first asked about him and then asked for the keys of the scooter.

After this, according to him, the three lifted the seat of the scooter and planted a pistol inside. They made a video and left with the scooter.

Firoz in his complaint said the policemen also threatened to come and meet them if he didn't want to go to jail.

He said since he was afraid he approached through someone the three policemen, who asked for Rs 1 lakh in bribe, and length, settled for Rs 50,000.

Firoz claimed he got his scooter back only after he paid the three men Rs 50,000.

Sajwan said, according to the CCTV footage, no illegal weapon was planted in the scooter by any policeman, nor did any policeman go near the scooter.

He said investigation is on into Firoz's claim of paying the policemen money.