New Delhi: Taking to social media to voice his grievance and criticise his department costs a UP Police constable dearer. He was suspended and a departmental inquiry was constituted against him for “bringing bad name” to the police department and “instigating” others to join him.
Afzal Khan, stationed at the Lakhimpur-Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, circulated a video on Whatsapp accusing the police department of drastically cutting down the lunch allowance given to policemen on election duty.
He – in the video – alleged that the Election Commission (EC) had earmarked an allowance of Rs 1,500 per day for each constable on election duty, but his department is giving only Rs 150.
Asking the Election Commission to investigate the matter, Khan urged fellow constables to share the video, which has now gone viral, with as many people as possible.
Soon after the video within minutes of its circulation, the enraged UP Police suspended the cop and constituted a departmental probe against him for “instigating” other policemen to join him in his social media blitz against the department.
“Afzal Khan was suspended for posting and sharing the video on social media to incite fellow constables. We are not yet sure of his intentions, but the act could have created an uneasy situation for the police,” said Lakhimpur-Kheri Superintendent of Police Manoj Jha.
Jha added there are different allowance criteria for policemen deployed on poll duty, depending on his/her rank. Khan was receiving a lunch allowance according to his rank, he added.
“His allegations are baseless. He was presenting wrong facts. He said Rs 150 is not enough to get a good lunch,” he clarified.
The rate of honorarium for police personnel on election duty – according to the EC’s notification – ranges from a minimum of Rs 2,500 for officer, Rs 2,000 for subordinate officers and Rs 1,500 for other ranks. This is for election duty of 15 days or less.
Khan appears to be inspired by BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav who earlier this month took to Facebook to air his grievance of bad quality served to them. He too drew the ire of the Ministry of Home Affairs.