Hyderabad, April 22 (Maxim News): HCCC Minorities Department Chairman Sameer Waliullah said police excesses on citizens of Hyderabad in name of lockdown.
“Hyderabad City Police has turn too aggressive and brutal ever since the State Government announced extension of lockdown on April 19 till May 7. While we support the lockdown and appreciate the services being rendered by thousands of policemen on city roads, we strongly condemn the high-handed behaviour of a few police personnel since the last three days,” Sameer Waliullah said in a media statement on Wednesday.
The Congress leader said that it was wrong on the part of police to treat everyone with suspicion. “Is it not wrong to question the intentions of every individual who is coming out to buy groceries, medicines or other essentials? People are mentally, economically and emotionally shattered due to lockdown. Since staying at home is the only option to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, almost 99.99% population is following the lockdown norms. There might be only a few persons who coming out for no valid reasons. However, police is targetting almost everyone and treating common citizens like criminals,” he said.
Sameer Waliullah said several videos of police excesses have been going viral on social media wherein police personnel are seen beating up and insulting the poor and innocent people. “They are treating everyone as a liar and cheat and not willing to accept that they came out to buy groceries or medicines or for some other important needs. In many cases, they are simply beating the people with lathis without even asking anything,” he alleged adding that even women were not being spared at many places. Citing an instance, he said sick women, who were going to a hospital, were forced to de-board an auto-rickshaw in the middle of the road at Tolichowki.
The Congress leader said that if the police needs to be so strict, then it should impose 24×7 curfew. “If police does not want to see any person on the road, then it should impose 24×7 curfew and give 2-3 hour relaxation to buy groceries. In present condition, the entire lockdown appears to be a drama. People are coming out on the assumption that they are allowed to buy groceries from 6 am to 6 pm. But they are being humiliated for no fault,” he said.
Sameer Waliullah also questioned the absence of elected representatives from the scene. “Why MIM President Asaduddin Owaisi, floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi and other MIM MLAs and leaders are not objecting to the police excesses? While people must be convinced that they ust stay at their homes to prevent spread of Coronavirus, those who are forced to come out to attend to emergencies or buy groceries must be treated with respect,” he said.
“Police officials must realise that we are all having a battle against Coronavirus and not against common people. More than the Coronavirus, people are now afraid of police. This fear will lead to hatred which sometimes results in revolt. The lockdown has already crushed the common people economically and many of them are now forced to beg for a meal. Instead of being sympathetic with them, a few police personnel were treating the common man as criminal. This is wrong and must be stopped,” he said.
He also demanded that the State Government direct police department not to collect pending challans. “Due to continuous lockdown for the last one month, people don’t have any savings. Whatever money they are mobilising through friends, relatives or others should be used to buy groceries and other essentials. Police should not snatch that money to recover pending challans,” he demanded. (Maxim News)
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