Himanshu Kumar, IPS officer of UP, suspended after he tweeted targeting Yogi Adityanath's government

New Delhi: Himanshu Kumar, an IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, has been suspended days after he tweeted targeting newly formed Yogi Adityanath's government in the state. UP Police has suspended the IPS officer for indiscipline, said deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya. Uttar Pradesh police had ordered a probe after the 2010-batch IPS officer alleged in a series of tweets that seniors in the department are targeting subordinates with the Yadav surname. The tweets of the officer, attached with the director general of police’s (DGP) office in Lucknow, triggered a caste controversy as the state’s Yadav community is typecast as supporters of the Samajwadi Party (SP). Himashu Kumar had recently tweeted that senior police personnel in the state are under immense pressure to suspend and send to reserve lines all police personnel having ‘Yadav’ surname. He later on deleted the tweet. Here's a screen shot of Himanshu Kumar's tweet which was later deleted by him. Couple of minutes later, he again tweeted saying, “Some people have misunderstood my tweet. I support the initiative of the Government.”

Some people have misunderstood my tweet. I support the initiative of the Government.

— Himanshu Kumar IPS (@Himanshu_IPS) March 22, 2017

However, he has stuck to his serious allegation of discrimination in the police system with the new government coming in, by launching a direct attack at the DGP office. He questioned, “Why is DGP office forcing officers to punish people in the name of caste?”

@brajeshlive @cmofficeup Why is DGP office forcing officers to punish people in the name of caste? — Himanshu Kumar IPS (@Himanshu_IPS) March 22, 2017

Kumar is 2010 batch IPS officer. He was posted as a Superintendent of Police posted in Manipuri and Firozabad earlier. Recently, Election Commission transferred him to DGP HQ in Lucknow. The previous Samajwadi Party government was also accused of allotting key positions to government officers holding ‘Yadav’ surnames.