UP Police Officer Transferred After Moral Policing Incident Involving Siblings at Temple Park

The incident sparked widespread criticism across social media platforms

In eastern Uttar Pradesh, a station house officer (SHO) has been transferred following an incident where she inappropriately confronted a girl and her brother at a temple park in Mau district. The officer had advised the girl against appearing in public places without a "guardian," according to officials' statements on Monday.

The confrontation quickly evolved into a moral policing controversy after video footage of the incident circulated on social media, prompting local police authorities to address the situation.

During what was described as an inspection for a women's safety awareness initiative, police officer Manju Singh, who served as SHO of the 'mahila thana' (women's police station), was recorded questioning a young man and two girls who had traveled from neighboring Ghazipur district to visit the Sheetla temple park.

Suspecting an inappropriate relationship, Officer Singh requested the father's contact information from one of the girls and called him to confirm her identity.

The officer questioned the young man accompanying the girl, initially rejecting his claim that he was her brother. Following the phone conversation with their father, it was verified that the two were indeed siblings, as shown in the widely shared video.

Despite this confirmation, the footage shows the officer still advising the girl against being in public spaces "without a guardian" and instructing her father not to allow his children to go out "without guardians."

The video sparked significant backlash across social media, with many commenters criticizing the police for overstepping boundaries and engaging in unnecessary moral policing under the pretext of women's safety.

Mau Superintendent of Police Elamaran G informed PTI that following the incident, the SHO of the 'mahila thana' had been removed from her position.

"We are actively sensitizing and counseling all police personnel regarding proper interaction with the public," he added.

Additional Superintendent of Police Anup Kumar, who examined the matter, stated that no crime had been committed and warned against police personnel giving unsolicited advice or exceeding their authority.

He noted that some officers tend to assume a "moral duty" and offer unwanted suggestions, emphasizing that even couples in public spaces cannot be interfered with without legitimate reasons.

"Police across the district will receive sensitivity training. They should not perform duties outside their jurisdiction. My office will issue an official warning," Kumar stated.

According to a police official, the brother is of legal age while his sister is a minor. They were also accompanied by another girl—their cousin from Ghazipur—during their visit to the park.