Lucknow, Apr 1 (IANS): Three policemen in Uttar Pradesh have been suspended for quietly watching the forcible tonsuring of a youth after he was found sitting with a female friend, an official said on Saturday.

The incident happened in Shahjahanpur on March 22. A video of the incident went viral on a social media network on Friday, forcing the government to act.

In the video, the young man is shown pleading to the policemen surrounding him that he had done nothing wrong and was going around with a female friend.

"A young couple was sitting at a public place. Some locals ordered that the hairs of the youth be shaved off. Three policemen Suhail, Laiq and Sonu were present but they did not stop the crowd. When the matter was brought to the notice of the station house officer (SHO) he too did not act," an official said.

Superintendent of Police K.B. Singh has ordered a probe into the matter and has suspended the three policemen for dereliction of duty. Police in the state has been acting against couples under the 'anti-Romeo drive'.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has already asked police not to harass couples sitting in public places with mutual consent.