In a disturbing incident in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, four policemen were suspended after they assaulted a coconut seller, Chandra Kumar Prajapati, for refusing to provide them with free coconut water and declining to pay a daily bribe of Rs 1,000. The incident occurred on May 15, when the policemen approached Prajapati and demanded free coconut water, a favor they had reportedly been exploiting for about two months.
Prajapati's refusal to comply with their demands led to a violent response from the policemen. He reported that they physically abused him by punching and kicking him, and forcibly took him to the police station after he attempted to record the incident on his phone. At the station, the policemen tortured Prajapati, deleted the video evidence from his phone, and coerced him into signing a blank paper. They also recorded a video in which Prajapati was forced to state that he had not provided free coconuts to the policemen.
The preliminary investigation by Kanpur police corroborated Prajapati's accusations, revealing that the policemen had indeed assaulted him for refusing to give them free coconuts and bribes. As a result, the four policemen were suspended. Additional CP Harish Chandra confirmed that an Assistant Commissioner of Police conducted the initial investigation, leading to the suspensions. A detailed report is expected soon, and further action will be taken based on its findings.
This incident highlights the abuse of power by law enforcement officials and underscores the importance of accountability and swift action to uphold justice and protect citizens' rights.
