Uttar Pradesh: Famous ‘thain-thain’ cop Manoj Kumar injured in an encounter in Sambhal

Sometimes in October last year, Sub-Inspector Manoj Kumar became a national ‘hero’ sorts when his ‘thain-thain’ encounter clip went viral. Cut to 2019, Kumar is in news again, but this time situation is serious unlike the viral video. The Uttar Pradesh police officer was injured in an encounter in Sambhal district on Friday. Giving details about the encounter, Sambhal Superintendent of Police Yamuna Prasad said, “Two bike-borne miscreants fired at police during which Sub-Inspector Manoj Kumar got injured. During counter-firing, a criminal was also injured. One criminal absconding. Injured have been taken to hospital."

Kumar shot to fame after the on-camera encounter showed him shouting ‘thain-thain’ to scare off the criminals. The clip was tweeted by news agency ANI on October 12 last year. In the viral video, Kumar along with another policeman are seen shouting ‘thain-thain’ and ‘maaro, maaro.’

 

#WATCH: Police personnel shouts 'thain thain' to scare criminals during an encounter in Sambhal after his revolver got jammed. ASP says, 'words like 'maaro & ghero' are said to create mental pressure on criminals. Cartridges being stuck in revolver is a technical fault'. (12.10) pic.twitter.com/NKyEnPZukh

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 13, 2018

Later, explaining the ‘situation’, a senior official said that Kumar saved the day with exemplary presence of mind. Kumar’s gun had jammed and he was unable to fire. To create mental pressure on the criminals, the cops resorted to the unique vocal solution. Some policemen said that this was not new and cops have been using such techniques. "This was due to a technical glitch in the weapon that the officer was carrying. Such things are not new and might happen at times," a senior police official was quoted as saying by news agency ANI at that time.

While social media was full of memes and jokes, ANI reported that a criminal, who was wanted in a number of robbery cases and carried a reward of Rs 25 lakh, was arrested after being shot. One policeman was also injured during the encounter. 

In fact, all jokes notwithstanding, the Uttar Pradesh Police also awarded Kumar for his ‘valour’. Kumar’s name was recommended for an award to the DGP, Up Police. Unfazed by all the memes, the ‘thain-thain’ cop had said that he wasn’t embarrassed and that this was a technique to save the cops during the encounter. “I wanted to send out a message to the criminal that he was surrounded from all sides,” Kumar was quoted as saying.