After videos surface of Telangana police inspecting phones of commoners and detaining few based on suspicion, activist SQ Masood asks if its permissible by law
Telangana police under scanner after videos surface showing cops supposedly checking vehicles, inspecting mobile phones of commoners and even detaining a few out of suspicion of anti-social activities. Activist SQ Masood shared one such video on Twitter, tagging Telangana DGP and Hyderabad city police commissioner asking if it was permissible by law to stop and check people’s mobile phones, chats and pockets. He said it was harassment of common people. Other activists called the police action illegal and unconstitutional.
On October 19, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao instructed the Telangana Police and prohibition and excise department to work together and make the state free of ganja and other drugs. The deputy commissioner of Hyderabad’s South zone, Gajarao Bhupal rubbished the news saying there has been no violation of one’s privacy and it is not intrusion into personal life if one voluntarily gives their phone. He said the police asked for the vehicle’s registration certificates and other documents and people were showing the e-documents on their phones for no such complaints have been made. He added no such instructions have been given at checkpoints to go through anyone’s mobile phone.
On Thursday, the Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar said at a press conference, "As far as privacy of common law-abiding citizens is concerned, it is most important and sacred. No police officer anywhere in the country has any intention of intruding into that. But as far as rowdies, criminals are concerned, if we find anything in their possession, we have to check what is that and it is our prime responsibility.” He further added that, "In few cases of grave and sensational crime, when the accused is likely to run away, police check all the items found at the scene of the crime or available with the offenders caught. At that time, we do not know who are the gang members and who are accomplishers. Thus, whatever is found at the scene of evidence is examined immediately."
He stressed on the importance of checking all items in possession of the offenders from laptops, hard disks, pen drives etc to track those who are helping the criminals. "Similarly, sometimes frisking is also very important. When a suspected person is there lurking at night, whose identity is not known to the police, then it is the responsibility of the police to establish the identity. It is mandatory by Indian law and in the process if he finds it suspicious, he can also do frisking," said Anjani Kumar.
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