An inquiry has been initiated after a nearly two-minute video showing two police officers and few constables hitting a couple inside Andheri police station in Andheri (east) went viral on social media on Wednesday. Both the victims work at a call centre and had a scuffle outside the police station. The two were seen in the video being manhandled by police personnel inside Andheri police station. The Andheri police, however, claimed the duo was in an inebriated condition and had a fight with each other on the night of November 1 and that the police only tried to pacify them.
Thousands of people have seen the video and made negative comments on Twitter against the alleged highhandedness of the Mumbai police.
According to the Andheri police, the couple had partied in Malad (west) and had gotten drunk there. The youth is from Mumbai Central while his girlfriend is from Bhayander. The Andheri police officials spotted them fighting with each other below the Metro Bridge near Andheri railway station around 12.30 am.
Seeing them fight they were brought to the police station. Senior police inspector, Nandkumar Dhumal of Andheri police station said, “Our men were only trying to separate them so we could question them independently just to know their identity and where they came from as they were caught fighting on the road in an inebriated condition in the wee hours. The gentleman caught the lady from the back and was not letting her go at all. We requested him but he paid no heed. Then the policemen started pulling him and lady constables started pulling her. This is when a person, with a prior criminal record, having three cases against him started recording the video and made it viral to get back at the police,” added Mr Dhumal.
Deputy commissioner of Police, zone X, Vinayak Deshmukh has ordered an inquiry into the incident. Assistant Commissioner of Police D.K. Rupawate will be conducting the inquiry. Mr Deshmukh confirmed what Mr Dhumal said but added, “While separating them if they have been violent, then appropriate action will be taken.”
The medical report of the couple showed alcohol content in their blood. The couple has apologised to the police in presence of their parents and was let off after a warning. No case has been registered against anyone. Ghulam Maqbool Sheikh, who recorded the video, said, “The police assaulted them a lot including the lady. A case should be registered against them as the couple was innocent. Getting drunk and quarrelling with each other is not a crime and beating them so much was not required at all. It is abuse of power.”
