Four Himachal Pradesh police personnel, including Sub-Inspector Manoj Kumar and constables Srikant, Manohar Lal, and Rajan Kumar, were suspended on Saturday after a viral video showed them purchasing liquor while in uniform during an escort mission for Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

The incident occurred in Chandigarh on Friday, following Sukhu’s road trip from Shimla to Delhi due to adverse weather conditions. A departmental probe has been initiated to investigate further, confirmed Solan Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh.

The over two-minute video, which spread rapidly across social media, captured a liquor shop worker loading two cartons of liquor into a black Scorpio police vehicle at the officers’ direction. The policemen, two from Solan district police and two from the Kolar Police Battalion, were returning to Himachal after Sukhu proceeded to Delhi. The Cyber Cell verified the footage’s authenticity, prompting swift action from senior officers.

This incident adds to recent controversies surrounding Sukhu’s administration, which has faced criticism over issues like the drug trade and political defections. The suspensions highlight ongoing efforts to enforce discipline within the state’s police force, especially after Sukhu’s 2024 directives to curb illicit liquor activities.

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