'Help save Palestine, 1 repost =$1': UP police constable seeks support for Palestine on Facebook, suspended

BAREILLY: A UP police constable has been suspended over his social media post supporting Palestine on Facebook, officials said on Monday.

Constable Suhail Ansari, posted in Reserve police lines in Kheri, had put a status seeking financial aid for Palestine on his FB account. In the purported post, Ansari said: "Help save Palestine, 1 repost =$1".

A complaint was sent in this matter to the director general of police by one social media user, Anupam Tiwari, stating that, "After a terrorist attack on October 7, when India is standing with Israel, a UP constable is collecting funds for Palestine."

After Tiwari's post went viral, SSP (Kheri) Ganesh Prasad Saha tasked additional SP Naipal Singh to conduct a probe. Initial investigation confirmed that the post was shared from Ansari's FB account. The SSP then ordered his suspension.

Circle officer (Sadar) Sandeep Kumar said, "Ansari's post asking for donations for Palestinians was widely circulated online. Several complaints were received against him that's why the SSP suspended him."

Meanwhile, in his defence, Ansari said that the post was not shared by him, but his minor son instead. "A post related to Palestine was shared from my phone by my son while playing a game. I would like to apologise if someone's sentiments were hurt because of it," he said.