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Bilaspur: Cops clink glasses on duty, suspended

RAIPUR: Two police constables have been suspended in Bilaspur after a video went viral showing them taking a 'drinks break' while transporting prison inmates to court.


The constables stopped the prison van midway along the route, bought liquor while in uniform, and had a couple of drinks on October 4, say police.

The video was shot by another policeman, who has not been named. The police van was on its way from central Jail to Belha court with five undertrials facing charges of loot, molestation and possession of illegal guns. All four cops escorting them got off near a market, leaving the inmates unattended, and two of them took liquor on the roadside. The police then took the inmates to court and dropped them back at jail. No one they met all day suspected that they had a few drinks, say sources.

When the video went viral, it sparked widespread condemnation. Head constable Rajendra Singh , who was leading the team, reported the matter to his seniors, Bilaspur SP Prashant Agrawal told TOI. A departmental inquiry was ordered on Sunday, and the SP issued showcause notices. "Constables Dilip Vaishnav and Nanuram Dehariya were suspended for dereliction of duty. The inquiry confirmed that they took alcohol on duty. The others shown in the video (head constable Singh and constable Ravi Wankhede) didn't take alcohol. Further investigation is underway," the SP said.

There were concerns of security as well since all the inmates were accused of serious crimes, and could have escaped when they were left in the van. Asked if action could be taken on the head constable, too, as he was leading the team, which made an unscheduled drink stop, the SP said. "No. He tried to the stop the duo from drinking, but they didn't listen."

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