Borabanda Police Accused of Assaulting Journalist Covering Family Dispute

HYDERABAD: Borabanda police personnel allegedly manhandled a local journalist, Meesala Saidulu, 30, at the police station when he was covering a dispute between two families. “SR Nagar ACP Y. Venkateshwar Rao who had arrived there just then started abusing me, dragged me into the PS, threatened me with dire consequences and registering of a case,” Saidulu alleged.

The police denied the allegation and said they had forcefully dispersed a big crowd that had gathered outside the police station and the journalist may have been caught in the melee.

TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy termed the incident as an attack on the media and the freedom of press. “ olice are working for one party and are even preventing the media from doing its duty. We appeal to the Election Commission to look into this and take appropriate action,” he said.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle ACP Rao said he had rushed to the police station because over 50 persons had gathered there in violation of prohibitory orders. The crowd did not allow his vehicle to enter the premises. The crowed was asked to disperse. “When they did not pay heed, we had to disperse them. We did not know that some media persons were among the crowd. However, complying with the election code is the top priority,” he added.

Saidulu claimed that he was dragged into the PS and threatened that he would be booked for being drunk. “ When I challenged them to take me for a breath analyser test, the ACP said that he would book a different case. Though the SHO intervened, he did not listen. Later, the SHO apologised and allowed me to leave,” Saidulu claimed.