A man has been booked by Hyderabad police after he forcibly kissed a police officer during Bonalu festival celebrations in the city's Nallakunta area. The Nallakunta Sub-Inspector K Mahender filed the complaint alleging that 28-year-old Poudel Bhanu, a bank employee, had obstructed him from discharging his duty.
A video of the incident, which went viral on social media, shows a group of men dancing on the street. As SI Mahender passes the spot, Bhanu, who appears to be inebriated, grabs hold of the policeman hugs and plants a kiss on his face. The policeman reacts by slapping the man, who stumbles back and continues dancing.
A youth in Hyderabad booked for disturbing a cop from doing duty. A viral video shown youth kissing the copy forcibly even as he resisted. pic.twitter.com/YPn9e88PlF
— CharanTeja (@CharanT16) July 30, 2019
SI Mahender was supervising the security measures in Vidyanagar area in connection with Bonalu festival on Saturday night. The SI in his complaint stated that the youth besides forcibly hugging him while discharging his duties had also pushed him back.
Based on the complaint, the Station House Officer has registered a case under IPC 353 (Obstruction of public servant from doing duty). Poudel Bhanu has been identified as a resident of Malkajgiri in Hyderabad city. He has since been detained by the Nallakunta police.
“On Saturday, Bonalu festival was celebrated in Hyderabad city and as part of the arrangements, our police personnel were performing their duties in the limits of Nallakunta police station. Sub Inspector Mahendra was at a procession in the area. A person named Bhanu, resident of Malkajgiri, who came to attend the procession in Nallakunta area obstructed Sub Inspector Mahendra and kissed him in an inebriated condition," Murlidhar, Inspector, Nallakunta police station said while confirming that he has been taken into custody.
Bonalu festival is a monsoon folk festival celebrated to worship Goddess Mahankali. To mark the day, devotees across Telangana take out processions. Saturday marked the first day of the festival.