Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, after he took over the reins of the administration, issued a call for crushing the networks of narcotic gangs with an iron hand. While the Chief Minister meant action against producers, middlemen, agents, sellers and buyers of narcotics, the police in the tri-commissionerate of Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda have chosen an easy target — premium pubs.
The police are intruding into parties, halting music, and randomly demanding urine samples from men and women.
The frequent raids on pubs has resulted in pub-goers protesting against the police, accusing them of infringing on their fundamental rights by subjecting them to narcotics tests without any tip-off, let alone concrete evidence of drug consumption.
"We often go to pubs with our families, and it’s embarrassing to be subjected to such humiliating treatment. If we question their actions, they shout us down and summon us to the police station," lamented a software employee who frequents the city's upmarket pubs in Jubilee Hills.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a pub owner in Jubilee Hills, on the condition of anonymity, said, "We cooperate fully with police during raids, but they often happen during peak hours, disrupting the music and randomly selecting patrons for urine tests. Most of our clients are upset by this.”
“We are a premium pub, where families and couples come to enjoy themselves, but these sudden raids have caused a drop in customers. We pay over `50 lakh for licences and liquor duties. When business declines, we suffer losses. We have male and female bouncers who check bags before customers enter. But when six to 10 officers show up with sniffer dogs, we have to shut down the music for half an hour, usually on weekends — our busiest time,” he explained.
Human rights activist Deepthi Sirla asked why the police targeted only pubs when drug use was rampant in other areas. "This is a breach of human rights. The police are acting like feudal lords. Forcing non-users to submit to tests is mentally-disturbing, especially when they’re just trying to have a good time. The government should reconsider these actions."
A police official, speaking anonymously, said that raids are conducted based on credible information. “In a raid, out of a hundred people, at least eight will test positive. The drugs don’t have to be consumed in the pub — traces of substances like cocaine, MDMA, heroin, and methadone can be detected in urine for up to three months,” the official explained.
Advocate Sirasani Goutham from the Telangana High Court said that random checks during large gatherings violated the rights of innocent citizens. “Section 41 of the NDPS Act requires strong evidence before authorities can act against an individual. The Act does not give authorities the right to randomly demand blood or urine samples from citizens unless they are found in possession of drugs. If private property is to be raided, a magistrate’s permission is required.”
