CCTV footage of police allegedly caning pan shop owner in Borabanda goes viral

Hyderabad: A CCTV video showing a policeman allegedly thrashing a pan shop owner in Borabanda for operating beyond permitted hours has gone viral on social media, triggering outrage among local residents.

The victim, identified as Jaffar (also known as Mehraj), claims that around 12:30 am on Tuesday, two policemen arrived in a patrol vehicle and began caning him indiscriminately while he was closing his shop. He suffered a leg injury in the incident. Despite his repeated apologies, Jaffar alleges the policemen continued the baton-charging.

Responding to the controversy, Borabanda Inspector of Police A. Veerasekhar defended the action, stating that the caning was necessary to disperse a crowd that had gathered at the shop late at night. He denied allegations that the shopkeeper was injured during the incident.

The Inspector cited recent criminal activities in the area, including drug-related offences and violent crimes and justified the usage of mild force for dispersing late-night gatherings that could pose security risks.

The police officials pointed out that the roadside pan shop was operating illegally, as it had been leased to Jaffar by Shafi, a person with disability. He claimed the shop’s surroundings had become a gathering point for troublemakers and drug peddlers.

In what appears to be a case of police high handedness, a pan shop owner in Borabanda was brutally thrashed by a policeman for allegedly keeping his shop open beyond the stipulated hours. The incident was captured on CCTV and the video has since gone viral on social media. #CCTV… pic.twitter.com/p4bJiJo1ll

— Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) November 13, 2024