BJP MLA Shalabh Mani Tripathi posts video of UP cops beating ‘rioters’, calls it return gift

Several incidences of violence have been reported from various parts of India, with people demanding the arrest of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma over her controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad. In the last 24 hours, Uttar Pradesh police have made over 300 arrests in connection with Friday’s violence during such protests in the state.

On June 11, a video showing two UP cops beating alleged rioters surfaced on social media. In the video, two cops were seen beating nine accused rioters with sticks as they pleaded and attempted to block the blows. The video was shared by local BJP MLA Shalabh Mani Tripathi with a caption — “return gift to rioters,” triggering controversy.

Also Read: Al-Qaeda threatens suicide bomb attacks over sacked BJP leaders’ remarks on Prophet

Uttar Pradesh opposition leader and Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav shared the video and said that questions should be raised over such incidents.

“Questions must be raised on such a detention, otherwise justice will lose its power (‘iqbal’). UP is No.1 in custodial deaths. UP tops in human rights violations and UP is ahead of all in Dalit atrocities,” he wrote tweeting the video. 

Responding to Akhilesh Yadav’s remarks during a press conference at the BJP office here, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday said, “Rioters are being beaten up but Akhilesh Yadav is feeling the pain.”

Also Read: Inevitable unrest: How Nupur Sharma’s comments sparked protests in India

On Saturday, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued a stern warning saying, “Strictest action will be taken against the anti-social elements involved in the chaotic efforts to spoil the atmosphere in various cities in the past few days.”

“There is no place for such anti-social people in a civilised society. No innocent should be harassed, but not a single guilty should be spared,” he added.