On Thursday midnight, a couple in Karnataka’s Bengaluru was allegedly harassed by police officers who compelled them to pay 1,000 through the payment app PayTm for ‘breaking the law’ by wandering on the street near their home after 11 p.m., which they said was not permitted. The pair was on their way home from a birthday party.
A man named Karthik Patri described his ordeal on Twitter and asked the Bengaluru City Commissioner of Police for assistance.
Mr Patri begins his ordeal by saying, “I would like to share a traumatic incident my wife and I encountered the night before. It was around 12:30 midnight. My wife and I were walking back home after attending a friend’s cake-cutting ceremony (We live in a society behind Manyata Tech park).”
He claimed they were a few metres from their entrance gate when a patrol van pulled up next to them, and two men in police uniforms demanded they produce their identification. The cops were in a Pink Hoysala van; complaints submitted via the Suraksha panic app or police control room number 112 likely resulted in a rapid response from Pink Hoysala.
Pink Hoysala Police Cars. Image For Representation Only.
Image Source: India Car News
The cops took the couple’s phones and questioned them about personal information after they showed them photographs of their Aadhaar cards.
Here is the entire thread:
I would like to share a traumatic incident my wife and I encountered the night before. It was around 12:30 midnight. My wife and I were walking back home after attending a friend’s cake-cutting ceremony (We live in a society behind Manyata Tech park). (1/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
We were a few metres away from our entrance gate when a pink Hoysala patrol van stopped by us. Two men in police uniforms asked us to show our ID cards. We were taken aback. Why should an adult couple walking on the street on a normal day be asked to show their ID cards? (2/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
Anyway, we had nothing on us except our phones and a box of cake. Luckily, we had photos of our Aadhar cards. We promptly showed them to them. To our surprise, they took our phones away and started quizzing us about our relationship,place of work,parental details,etc.(3/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
Though a bit shaken, we answered their questions politely. At this point, one of them took out what looked like a challan book and started noting down our names and Aadhaar numbers. Sensing trouble, we asked why we were being issued a challan. (4/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
“You are not allowed to roam on the road after 11 pm,” one of them retorted. Struck by the absurdity of the reason, we persisted: “Is there such a rule? We are unaware about it.” “Literate people like you should know about such rules.” he shot back. (5/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
Although not convinced, we decided to back down. It was late in the night; our phones had been confiscated; there was no help in sight; and the least we wanted was a confrontation with two policemen. (6/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
We apologised for being ignorant about the rule and assured them of not venturing out at night again. We thought we were over it, but it was as if the two men were waiting for this moment. They refused to let us go and demanded Rs 3,000 as penalty. Our hearts sunk. (7/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
It was clear as day that the two men (tragic if they were indeed policemen) were out to con unsuspecting civilians, and we ended up being their victims. We literally begged them to let us go, but they wouldn’t budge. (8/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
The more we pleaded, the harsher they became, even threatening to arrest us. It was as if we were stuck in quicksand – the more we struggled, the deeper we sunk. This continued for a long time, until the harassment became unbearable. (9/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
They showed us pictures of convicts and threatened us of dire consequences if we didn’t pay up. I could barely hold my nerve, while my wife was in tears. Perhaps realizing that they had pushed a woman too far and fearing the legal consequences, they changed tack. (10/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
They said only I would be penalized. The man in the driving seat took me aside and advised that I pay a minimum amount to avoid further trouble. By now I was mentally drained and exhausted, my wife was terribly distressed, I didn’t want the ordeal to prolong even more.(11/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
I agreed to pay Rs 1,000 and get done with it. The man immediately held up a PayTM QR code, waited for me to scan it and make the payment, and let us ago with a stern warning: “If I and my wife are ever seen walking on road at midnight, they would register a strong case…(12/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
… against us and ensure that we keep circling around the court.” We couldn’t sleep that night or focus on work the next day. The whole incident has left a deep scar on our minds. It has shaken our faith in the law-enforcement agencies.(13/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
My humble questions to the Bengaluru City Police @BlrCityPolice :
Is this not terrorism, is this not legalized torture?
Is this how honest, low-abiding citizens of this land are meant to be treated?(14/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
If the protectors of law themselves break the law and prey on hapless citizens, whom do we turn to? (15/15)
@CPBlr @PoliceBangalore— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
Anoop A Shetty, Deputy Commissioner of Police, North East Division, Bengaluru City, responded to the Twitter thread, thanked Mr Patri for bringing it to their attention and promised harsh punishment. A constable and a chief constable from the Sampigehalli police station have been suspended as a result of the investigation.
Screenshot Of The Tweet Confirming The Suspension
