A group of police officers in Hyderabad were seen stopping commuters and checking their phones to look for words such as ‘drugs’ or ‘ganja’.
The Hyderabad police conducted a drive to check phones of locals for chats on drugs. (Video grab)
A video has surfaced showing Hyderabad police officers in Hyderabad stopping commuters on the road and checking their phones to look for chats on ganja or other drugs. The video has gone viral, inviting social media backlash for the police with many slamming the apparent breach of privacy.
The video shows police personnel in Hyderabad conducting an anti-ganja-drugs drive in part of the old city by stopping vehicles, particularly two-wheelers, and asking the riders to show their phones and searching the word ‘drugs’ in their chats.
Watch the video:
According to South Zone DCP Gajrao Bhupal, over 100 policemen took part in the search operation in the Asadbaba Nagar area of Bahadurpura police limits. 58 vehicles were searched during the drive.
“10 rowdy-sheeters were taken into custody and they were counselled to refrain from criminal activities. For the past two months, we are conducting a special drive against drugs, ganja in the Hyderabad commissionerate and violators will not be spared,” said the DCP.
New policing practices alert: stop and search phone chats by the @hydcitypolice. Police are searching phone chats for words like ganja. Wait until they replace words with NRC, Modi or BJP. pic.twitter.com/1lNjvKRIgk
— Srinivas Kodali (@digitaldutta) October 27, 2021
Sharing the ‘phone search’ video on Twitter, activist Srinivas Kodali said, “New policing practices alert: stop and search phone chats by the Hyderabad Police. Police are searching phone chats for words like ganja. Wait until they replace words with NRC, Modi or BJP.”
Another Twitter user wrote, “Next, waiting for Hyderabad Police to stop commuters and check for money .. how many currency notes, chillar, credits cards in case of bank or financial frauds.”
Activists SQ Maqsood said, “This is clear harassment to common and illiterate people.” Meanwhile, Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjini Kumar said that he is not aware of the video and “will verify it”.
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