A horrific video has emerged from Koppal in Karnataka, where a police officer is seen hitting a man with what appears to be a leather strip.
In the clip, the man grimaces in pain when he is struck but the officer is not done. He turns to another man and takes aim before striking the man hard on his palm. Another police officer watches on unmoved, as this assault continues.
Their crime? Jumping a traffic signal.
The two police officers belonging to Koppal police station are facing the heat after the video beating up two men for jumping a traffic signal went viral.
The two policemen, identified as Viruapakshappa and Suresh Talwar, had stopped two men for jumping a signal during a temple procession in the town on Thursday. The two men reportedly started arguing with the policemen, angering them. They were soon joined by other police personnel, who surrounded the men and dragged them to the Koppal police station, where they were beaten up.
The incident took place at an area whose security was being managed by the two policemen appearing in the video.
The fine for people who jump traffic signals is Rs 100 as per Rule 119 section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Instead of filing a report or giving a challan to the offenders, the policemen took matters into their own hands and asked the two men to stand still with their hands stretched out at the police station.
They then proceeded to hit the men brutally leaving them wincing in pain. The nature of the police’s attack on the two men was highlighted by a bystander who videographed the beating. The video is now being shared on social media platforms and on television news channels.
Doddesh, a resident of Koppal alleged that Virupakshappa has had run-ins with citizens in the past too and has been accused of misbehaviour including assault. In spite of calls for stringent action to be taken on the officer, none has been taken yet.
Attempts by TNM to contact the Koppal police were unsuccessful.