MP cop benched for instructing gym owner to bar Muslims

BHOPAL: A police officer from Bhopal was removed from active duty and attached to the lines on Monday after a video surfaced showing him instructing a gym owner to bar Muslim trainers and trainees from his facility.

The incident took place a few days ago in Ayodhya Nagar locality here when Bajrang Dal members visited a gym and objected to the presence of Muslim trainers, police sources said. Cops were called in to manage the situation, and sub-inspector Dinesh Sharma was among the officers who responded.

In the video, Sharma can be heard saying: "No Muslim will come here to give or take training. I have made this clear to you." After the footage sparked outrage, officers initiated an internal inquiry into Sharma's conduct. He was subsequently relieved of field duties and sent to the lines pending further investigation.

BJP MP from Bhopal Alok Sharma seemed to defend the SI's remarks. A news agency quoted him as saying that a "list of Muslim trainers would be given to police".

Speaking to media on Sunday, Sharma said that a "list of gym instructors" in the city had been compiled and insisted that women clients should be trained exclusively by female instructors. "The list of gym trainers will be handed over to police, who will act according to the law. Love jihad cannot be allowed," the MP told the media.