UP Cop Suspended for 'Controversial' Post Backing Palestine; Those Spreading Hatred Won’t be Spared: CM

Seeking help and donations for Palestine on social media proved costly for Uttar Pradesh police constable who has been suspended for making a controversial post amid the ongoing war.

The war is a fallout of the massive terror attack, which Hamas militant group from Palestine launched on Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7.

The UP Police has set up a departmental enquiry against the constable who had sought donations for Palestine from his official social media account.

“The constable was suspended for making the controversial post and seeking donations for Palestine on social media. An inquiry has been set up against the constable in order to find out the reason for supporting Palestine. On finding guilty, strict action would be initiated against the erring constable,” said Sandeep Singh, deputy superintendent of police of Kheri.

UP Police’s action came following the social media post of constable Sohail Ansari, who is currently posted in Lakhimpur Kheri and hails from Bareilly district, went viral. “Help Save Palestine” — the constable’s post read. It further said that “one repost is equal to one dollar. All donations are directly sent to @IslamicreleifUSA. Around 82 lakhs have been raised so far. Add to the story to help save Palestine”.

However, this is not for the first time in Uttar Pradesh that a person has supported the Palestinian cause. On October 9, an FIR was registered against four students and others for taking out a march on the campus in support of Palestine. A video of the procession too surfaced on social media.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued directives to the police in a recent meeting to take strict action against those trying to spread hatred using the Palestinian cause in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

In the meeting, he ordered the officials that no controversial statement would be tolerated on social media or at any religious place. Strict action will be taken if the someone violates the directive, said a government spokesperson quoting the CM.