Mumbai: A video showing a cop in the city allegedly threatening to plant drugs on student protestors to deter them from protesting in support of Cockroach Janta Party surfaced on Thursday and triggered a fresh row over police conduct during the ongoing protests over the NEET paper leak, prompting the Mumbai police to suspend the police constable seen in the video.The purported conversation took place in a police vehicle on Wednesday. In the video, the policeman, Pawan Sangle, attached to Sion police station, is seen sitting in the driver’s seat and allegedly telling the students, “If I see you here again, there won’t be anyone worse than me. I will directly plant 50 grams of powder in your pockets, and it will ensure you won’t get bail and your life will be ruined. We are facing trouble because of you.”CM Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio in Maharashtra, said the police constable has been suspended. An inquiry has been ordered into the matter, a senior police officer said. Politicians of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi termed the video as extremely serious and demanded prompt action.Harshvardhan Kadam (18), one of the protesters who is seen in the video, recorded the alleged conversation on his mobile phone. Kadam told TOI, “The cops caught me and my friends near Shivaji Park, and this policeman was abusing us and threatening us. I decided to secretly video-record his abusive language.”Kadam lives in Ulhasnagar and, after clearing his Class 12 exams, is pursuing further studies and also doing a part-time job. He said that after issuing the warning to the students, the constable dropped them near Dadar Metro station, asked him and his friends to leave the area, and warned them not to return, saying the consequences would otherwise be worse. Kadam said apart from recording the cop’s abusive language, the idea of making the clip was also to ensure his own protection. Persons found with drugs are booked under stringent narcotics laws.Reacting to the video going viral, Kadam said, “I did not do this to become famous. I am happy that my voice has reached the masses. There is nothing political about this, nor am I against the system. I only want youngsters not to stop protesting. I am against violence and want them to continue their protest peacefully.”Protestors in Mumbai have been critical about police action, saying they have been receiving notices on messaging apps at 3 am, have faced hours-long detention at police stations, and phones surrendered during detention have been returned to them with signs of surveillance. The protestors have also alleged they have not been provided copies of FIRs being registered against them. FIR copies were given to the protesters on Thursday. Thirteen FIRs have been filed in the city over the protests so far.The constable, Sangle, has now been attached to the Central Control Room till the inquiry is over. Police said an officer of the rank of assistant commissioner of police (ACP) has been assigned to conduct the inquiry and submit a report to the commissioner of police.Police sources said the various viral video clips from the protests which were circulating would first be sent for forensic examination to ascertain whether they were genuine or had been doctored. “Once forensic experts confirm that the video is genuine, we may not even need to call the person who recorded it. We will begin recording the statement of the police personnel involved and recommend strict action,” an official said.
