Telangana Cops Drag Protesting Student By Hair, Video Sparks Outrage (image-screen grab)
A video of two Telangana policewomen dragging a protesting student by hair has gone viral on social media. A women associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) was manhandled during a protest in Telangana’s Ranga Reddy district on Wednesday.
The students of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) were protesting against the state government’s decision to allocate 100 acres of land belonging to the university for the construction of the new High Court complex. On Wednesday, the ABVP called for a protest in support of the students. 20 students were taken under preventive custody as a precautionary measure, reports NDTV.
In the video, the policewomen were seen chasing a woman while riding on a scooty, following which she fell on the ground.
While speaking on the incident, the Rajendra Nagar police inspector said, “Today a protest was held at PJTSAU in which ABVP members also participated. We had taken around 20 protestors under preventive custody. Some protestors were running towards the road during which an incident happened where a woman constable by mistake held a protestor by her hair, following which she fell”, says India Today.
He further added that the woman cop apologised for their wrongful action against the girl and no complaint has been filed by the student.
The video has triggered public outrage. “The recent incident involving Telangana police is deeply concerning and absolutely unacceptable,” wrote Kavitha, leader of the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi, on X.
The recent incident involving Telangana police is deeply concerning and absolutely unacceptable. Dragging a peaceful student protester and unleashing abrasive behaviour on the protestor raises serious questions about the need for such aggressive tactics by the police.
This… pic.twitter.com/p3DH812ZBS
— Kavitha Kalvakuntla (@RaoKavitha) January 24, 2024
She has urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) “to take swift and strict action against those involved”.
“This arrogant behavior demands an unconditional apology from the Telangana Police. Urging the Human Rights Commission to take swift and strict action against those involved. This behavior cannot become a norm and must be condemned by all alike,” she added.
