Pune: Police Officials Assault Youth For Not Wearing Mask Despite Paying Fine

Shikha Chaurasia

Pune, September 17, 2020: In order to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Pune city, the police are being vigilant in cracking down on people for not wearing masks and penalizing them.

In a recent incident, Anwar Tamboli, a resident of Dehu Road has alleged that he was beaten up by the policemen of Samarth Police Station on September 13 around 7 pm. He said that due to the police brutality, he has become partially deaf.

Tamboli narrated the whole incident and said that he went to Pune city near KEM Hospital to attend a relative’s marriage. While he was returning home to Dehu Road, he was wearing a mask but he decided to stop at a tea stall along with two of his relatives.

He added further, “I was alone on my bike and my mask was in my pocket. A female officer gestured me to stop. I got confused because there were other people on two-wheelers too. Before I could comprehend the situation police sub-inspector (PSI) Shivraj Hale came and hit me on my back. I asked the police officers as to why he hit me due to which we got into an argument. Hale accused me of evading action and trying to escape even after the female cop gestured me to stop. I tried to tell him that I wasn’t trying to run away and if that was my plan why would I come back to them? This resulted in a heated argument between us both and Hale slapped me twice due to which I am now facing hearing problems.”

Tamboli was later taken to the Samarth police station and despite paying the penalty for not wearing a mask he was manhandled by the police officials and was even beaten with sticks.

He has now submitted a written complaint with the Samarth police station.“Today I visited the police station to file a complaint along with Medico-legal case (MLC) from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital General Hospital but police asked me to give a complaint in writing and accordingly give it for necessary action”, Tamboli stated in his application.

However, PSI Shivraj Hale has denied these allegations and said that Tamboli is just trying to falsely frame him.