MEERUT: Unfazed by the jokes and memes being circulated on the social media, Uttar Pradesh Police has decided to recognize the “valour” of Sambhal sub-inspector who started shouting “thain thain” to scare criminals during an encounter when his pistol suddenly jammed last week.

A 13-second video showing SI Manoj Kumar’s immediate response of mimicking the sharp crack of gunfire apparently to frighten one of the miscreants hiding in the sugarcane field was so bizarre that the clip went viral on the social media.

The police department, however, has hailed the incident as an “act of bravery” and Kumar’s name has been sent for a commendation disc and certificate from the director general of police.

Sambhal superintendent of police Yamuna Prasad said, “My subordinate, SI Manoj Kumar, was hailed as a hero and my seniors have taken the incident very positively. In a police engagement, the SI didn't quit the battle after his pistol choked. Then, he started to shout encouraging words for his fellow colleagues in a strategic move.”

In the

, Kumar can be heard producing sound of gunshot after his pistol jams at the eleventh hour during the encounter in a sugarcane field. Unfazed, after his pistol fails to fire despite several attempts, Kumar can be heard shouting, “Maaro maaro, ghero ghero, thain thain (shoot, surround, bang bang).”

The video was shot by one of the fellow constables during the combing operation.

Kumar, who has served for 28 years in the department, however, didn’t feel embarrassed.

“My pistol jammed during the combing operation. Later, I started shouting in a bid to create pressure on the absconding criminal who had escaped into the cane fields,” the sub-inspector said. “I wanted to send out a message to the criminal that he has been surrounded from all sides,” he said.

The video was later shared with local media persons and termed as an example of “good work” by the cop.