Karnataka: Clip of cops attack on hotel goes viral

Bengaluru: The CCTV footage of policemen beating up hotel staff in Khanapur and forcing them to open the shutters, well past midnight, has now gone viral on social media sites.

The police have ordered an investigation by an officer of DCP rank and the report will be submitted shortly.  

The incident, which came to light on Tuesday, actually took place on October 21, around 1.20 am, while the Diwali festivities were still on.

Before this attack on Shantisagar Hotel staff, two groups had clashed at a bar nearby. But when the police arrived, all those involved had fled.

The police then beat up the hotel watchman, who was sleeping outside. They then got the shutters of the closed hotel open and assaulted the hotel staff asleep inside.

The police then arrested several staff members and took them to Khanapur police station.

In a complaint, hotel owner Sharat Kumar Shetty stated that the police officers did not provide any response regarding the assault and arrest of the hotel staff. He wanted stringent action against the guilty.

Meanwhile the Khanapur police also file a counter case against Shetty under various sections for assaulting them.

According to sources the police staff in Khanapur police station had resorted to similar attacks in the past, but no action was taken. This time also if they were caught on camera, they would have carried out a cover-up, they added.

They also alleged that several police personnel were regularly staying in the same hotel and enjoyed all facilities for free. Sometimes, police officials deputed on special duty also used to stay there without settling the bills.

Sources claimed that the police personnel have so far incurred a bill of more than Rs 2 lakh. Whenever the hotel owner asked the police officials to settle the bills, they used to resort to such clashes with the staff, they added.