Viral video shows UP cops thrashing men as a "Return Gift"
text_fieldsLucknow: A video shared on Twitter by a BJP lawmaker in UP showed police thrashing to pulp nine men in what appears to be a police station.
MLA Shalabh Mani Tripathi captioned the video "return gift for rioters", giving rise to protests against police brutality, according to NDTV.
Tripathi, a former journalist himself, used to be media advisor to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Shedding more light into the incident, reports say that it was shot two days previously at a police station in Saharanpur.
After Friday prayers, protests and clashes started at Saharanpur over comments by Nupur Sharma against Prophet Muhammad.
Subsequent to Friday's protest and violence, UP police reportedly arrested over 300 people in many districts.
It is reported based on information from police that 91 were held in Prayagraj and 71 in Saharanpur and 51 in Hathras.
Chief Minister Adityanath warned of "strictest" action against those involved.
In Saharanpur and Prayagraj Police officials reportedly said that said action would be taken against National Security Act (NSA).
Mrityunjay Kumar, media adviser to Yogi Adityanath, posted on Twitter a photo of a builldozer pulling down a building. His caption with it said, "Unruly elements remember, every Friday is followed by a Saturday".
The Yogi administration controversially seized or razed properties of riot accused and criminal even before their conviction.
The government is facing severe criticism over for its extra-judicial acts.