For some constables of Uttarakhand Police, fitness drills have taken an unexpected form. One of those among them who showed up overweight at inspection had to face a strange test of fitness: carrying their boss.

Literally.

Summoned to the police lines in Rudrapur last Sunday, the policemen had to go through physical fitness assessments in the presence of the Senior Superintendent of Police. Nothing wrong with that, of course.

But one overweight constable was asked to take a round of the parade ground while carrying a Station House Officer on his back.

The video above shows various clips from the assessment, including the contentious piggy-back run at the 17-second mark.

The furore generated by the incident has prompted Director General of Police BS Sidhu to order a probe. Stating that the incident took place in the presence of the media, he said there was plenty of evidence and “appropriate action would be taken”.

Sidhu offered an ingenious argument for why constables in particular should be treated with kindness. Since they are the ones with the most public interaction, they cannot be expected to treat the public well unless they are. The video below offers his official statement about the probe.