‘Return Gift For Rioters’: Videos Of Police Brutality Amid Prophet Row Draw Flak On Twitter

The video of a cop in Uttar Pradesh thrashing nine accused inside a room with a baton, was shared by the state’s BJP MLA Shalabh Mani Tripathi on Twitter with the caption 'return gift for rioters'.

Videos of police brutality have been going viral on social media amid protests over Prophets comment — Videos of police brutality have been going viral on social media amid protests over Prophet comment. *Twitter (Screengrab)*

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Updated: 12 Jun 2022 7:53 pm

A video of a cop thrashing nine men with a baton inside a room in Uttar Pradesh went viral on social media, generating criticism against police brutality amid protests over the derogatory comments made by former BJP spokespersons regarding Prophet Mohammad.

On Friday, several parts of the country including Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand saw protests by demonstrators who demanded further action against Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal. Mass arrests have followed the protests and clashes in Uttar Pradesh. In a video that has now been going viral on social media, cops in Uttar Pradesh can be seen thrashing those accused of the violence. While the location of the incident remains unclear, the video was shared on Twitter by Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Shalabh Mani Tripathi with the caption “return gift for rioters”.

बलवाइयों को “रिटर्न गिफ़्ट” !! pic.twitter.com/6qQo74SNUj
— Dr. Shalabh Mani Tripathi (@shalabhmani) June 11, 2022

As per a report in NDTV, the video was shot two days ago in a police station in UP’s Saharanpur—the region where protests and clashes erupted after Friday prayers. The video drew flak on social media from both ordinary netizens as well as politicians. Reacting to the video, former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav said: "Questions should be raised about such police stations... UP is No. 1 in custodial deaths, it is a leader in human rights violations and abuse of Dalits”.

Following the protests, several videos of police beating protesters has going viral across social media. Previously, a video of cops beating an allegedly underage boy who had been caught amid clashes went viral with many including journalists and activists calling out police brutality in the name of law and order. Some have alleged that the police action is targeted against the minority community.

Visual from Ranchi. A boy was stuck after clash, watch how @HemantSorenJMM's police are throwing stones and firing bullets on him. Today Muslims were protesting against impudent comments on Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H by ex BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. pic.twitter.com/xfbGgccyVk
— Meer Faisal (@meerfaisal01) June 10, 2022

On the streets of India, police are beating Muslim protestors and herding them like cattle into the back of police vans. Take a look at the brutality:pic.twitter.com/LGDk0fbV27
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) June 11, 2022

Sir, with due respect, custodial violence is not something to rejoice about. Assaulting anyone detained in a police station is not some act of bravery. It's a crime. Let's not glorify an illegal practice.

Courts have the authority and duty to punish guilty, not Police. https://t.co/iIdO10658p
— Arun Bothra 🇮🇳 (@arunbothra) June 12, 2022

Over 300 people have been arrested by UP police from various districts of the state, with the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath warning of strictest action against anyone trying to vitiate the atmosphere.

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has been cracking down on criminals and riot accused, seizing or razing their properties, even before their conviction.

On Friday Prayagraj, Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh saw violent protests as demonstrators angered by the remarks against Prophet Muhammad threw stones at police personnel after congregational prayers in mosques.