A case of harassment by police came into picture in the metro town of Bengaluru where two policemen allegedly demanded a sum of Rs 1,000 as fine from a couple for committing the crime of walking through the streets after 11 pm.
A man named Karthik Patri narrated his suffering, and appealed the Bengaluru City Commissioner of Police to help them. Following this Police have launched a probe as a result of which a constable and a head constable attached with the Sampigehalli police station have been suspended.
Mr Patri narrated the detailed incident in a series of 15 tweets over twitter. He said that he and his wife were returning from a birthday cake-cutting event this Thursday midnight around 12:30 pm. A pink Hoyasala van stopped near them. Two policemen in uniforms stepped out and asked for their ID proofs. The couple reluctantly showed the pictures of their adhar card.
The cops quizzed the couple, seized their phones, noted their adhar numbers and phone numbers and issued a challan. The couple was asked for penalty of Rs 3000 as according to them no one is allowed to walk on the streets after 11 pm. Despite of being aware that there is no such rule, the couple whose phone had been seized could find no other option.
The police denied to let the couple go even after they apologised several times and claimed to be unaware of such law. A policeman forcibly made them pay an amount of Rs 1000 through the PayTm app. According to the policeman the couple had ‘break the law’. Karthik tweeted "I could barely hold my nerve, while my wife was in tears. Perhaps realizing that they had pushed a woman too far and fearing the legal consequences, they changed tack".
Anoop A Shetty, Deputy Commissioner of Police, North East Division, Bengaluru City, responded to the Twitter thread. He thanked Mr Patri for disclosing the incident and assured proper legal action and justice to the couple. He wrote "They will be identified and stern action will be taken against them".