BENGALURU: Think twice before availing the WhatsApp service to reach Bengaluru police, as you could land in trouble. A complaint raised on the police WhatsApp number shook up an HR professional with a leading MNC after he complained to the police higher authorities about the lax attitude of two police constables attached to the HAL police station.
The complainant was summoned to the station and was allegedly slapped and tortured for over four hours by the head constable, who threatened him to withdraw the complaint. The cop also took away the complainant’s phone.
The incident occurred around 2 pm last Friday. Partha Nayak, a resident of HAL and an HR professional, posted on WhatsApp that he was threatened by two police constables on duty. “How dare you raise a complaint against us to the commissioner? Now bear the consequences,” was what the policemen told Mr Nayak when he questioned them about his ill-treatment.
Mr Nayak told Deccan Chronicle, “I had reported about an issue that happened at the Marathalli Reliance Digital store. A few miscreants were misbehaving and were threatening the people standing in a queue to get a newly launched SIM by Reliance. I immediately sent a message on the Bengaluru police WhatsApp number seeking help. As no one came to the spot, I messaged again saying that the police had not reached the spot.”
He said, “Two police constables in a Hoyasala patrolling vehicle reached the store. There were over 50 witnesses, but the head constable didn’t even get down from the jeep. When I narrated him about misbehaviour by some men, he said, ‘Don’t try to be smart. I have spoken to the manager and now, I need not talk to you’. I immediately posted a message on the WhatsApp about the head constable’s misbehaviour.”
In no time, Mr Nayak received a call from HAL police station, asking him to visit the station. He said, “I went to the HAL police station to meet the station house in-charge, but he was not available. A policeman came up to me and asked whether I was the one who raised a complaint on WhatsApp. I told him yes, and he started abusing me. He snatched away my phone and dragged me inside, telling the other men to make me sit next to the cells. I had not eaten since morning and as I was on medication, I asked for water, but the head constable, Sadashivappa, came up to me and slapped me hard in the face. I was shocked, and when I asked him what my mistake was and he should not humiliate me, the head constable said, ‘Your mistake was to complaint to the police commissioner and to warn you against doing such things in the future’. They threatened me that I would have to face serious consequences if I didn’t withdraw my complaint.”
Meanwhile, Mr Nayak’s wife and a friend serving in the Air Force rushed to the HAL police station and got him released around 8.30 pm, but only on the condition that he should withdraw the complaint against the policemen.
