In a recent incident in Bangalore, Karnataka, a couple was harassed by the police for walking on the street in front of their home after 11 pm. They were forced to pay Rs 1,000 for allegedly breaking the law. The two police officers made them pay the price through the PayTm app. The couple were allegedly returning home after attending a birthday event when the incident took place.
The harassed, Karthik Patri shared his ordeal on Twitter and tagged the Bengaluru police, and requested the Bengaluru City Commissioner of Police for help
He even asked the Bengaluru police if this was a form of “terrorism.”
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Take a look at his tweets:
He started his Twitter thread with the following,
“I would like to share a traumatic incident my wife and I encountered the night before. It was around 12:30 midnight. My wife and I were walking back home after attending a friend’s cake-cutting ceremony (We live in a society behind Manyata Tech park)”
I would like to share a traumatic incident my wife and I encountered the night before. It was around 12:30 midnight. My wife and I were walking back home after attending a friend’s cake-cutting ceremony (We live in a society behind Manyata Tech park). (1/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
Patri claimed that when they were almost at the entrance gate, a patrol van pulled up, and stopped them. Then the two police officers in their uniforms asked to see their identification.
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We were a few metres away from our entrance gate when a pink Hoysala patrol van stopped by us. Two men in police uniforms asked us to show our ID cards. We were taken aback. Why should an adult couple walking on the street on a normal day be asked to show their ID cards? (2/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
Even after they showed the photos of their IDs on their phones, the police didn’t look convinced and took their phones. They began “quizzing” them about their relationship, place of employment, and other personal details.
Anyway, we had nothing on us except our phones and a box of cake. Luckily, we had photos of our Aadhar cards. We promptly showed them to them. To our surprise, they took our phones away and started quizzing us about our relationship,place of work,parental details,etc.(3/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
Though a bit shaken, we answered their questions politely. At this point, one of them took out what looked like a challan book and started noting down our names and Aadhaar numbers. Sensing trouble, we asked why we were being issued a challan. (4/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
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“You are not allowed to roam on the road after 11 pm,” one of them retorted. Struck by the absurdity of the reason, we persisted: “Is there such a rule? We are unaware about it.” “Literate people like you should know about such rules.” he shot back. (5/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
Although not convinced, we decided to back down. It was late in the night; our phones had been confiscated; there was no help in sight; and the least we wanted was a confrontation with two policemen. (6/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
The couple even apologized and stated that they weren’t aware of such a rule, but the police refused to let them go and demanded 3,000 as a penalty.
We apologised for being ignorant about the rule and assured them of not venturing out at night again. We thought we were over it, but it was as if the two men were waiting for this moment. They refused to let us go and demanded Rs 3,000 as penalty. Our hearts sunk. (7/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
It was clear as day that the two men (tragic if they were indeed policemen) were out to con unsuspecting civilians, and we ended up being their victims. We literally begged them to let us go, but they wouldn’t budge. (8/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
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The more we pleaded, the harsher they became, even threatening to arrest us. It was as if we were stuck in quicksand – the more we struggled, the deeper we sunk. This continued for a long time, until the harassment became unbearable. (9/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
They showed us pictures of convicts and threatened us of dire consequences if we didn’t pay up. I could barely hold my nerve, while my wife was in tears. Perhaps realizing that they had pushed a woman too far and fearing the legal consequences, they changed tack. (10/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
They said only I would be penalized. The man in the driving seat took me aside and advised that I pay a minimum amount to avoid further trouble. By now I was mentally drained and exhausted, my wife was terribly distressed, I didn’t want the ordeal to prolong even more.(11/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
I agreed to pay Rs 1,000 and get done with it. The man immediately held up a PayTM QR code, waited for me to scan it and make the payment, and let us ago with a stern warning: “If I and my wife are ever seen walking on road at midnight, they would register a strong case…(12/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
… against us and ensure that we keep circling around the court.” We couldn’t sleep that night or focus on work the next day. The whole incident has left a deep scar on our minds. It has shaken our faith in the law-enforcement agencies.(13/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
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My humble questions to the Bengaluru City Police @BlrCityPolice :
Is this not terrorism, is this not legalized torture?
Is this how honest, low-abiding citizens of this land are meant to be treated?(14/15)
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
If the protectors of law themselves break the law and prey on hapless citizens, whom do we turn to? (15/15)
@CPBlr @PoliceBangalore— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 9, 2022
The police responded to the Twitter thread and Anoop A Shetty, Deputy Commissioner of Police, North East Division, Bengaluru City, thanked Mr. Patri for bringing it out and assured him of strict action. He replied,
Thank you for bringing it to our notice. They will be identified and stern action will be taken against them. We also request others to DM us in such cases
Thank you for bringing it to our notice. They will be identified and stern action will be taken against them.
We also request others to DM us in such cases— Anoop A Shetty, DCP North East (@DCPNEBCP) December 10, 2022
The Deputy Commissioner of Police also stated that there is no such rule that one cannot be on the road after 11 p.m. in Bengaluru. He wrote,
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No. There is no such rule
— Anoop A Shetty, DCP North East (@DCPNEBCP) December 11, 2022
After the Police launched a probe, the constable and the head constable from the Sampigehalli police station were suspended
Later, Karthik tweeted that the culprits responsible for their harassment at night have been identified and he thanked the Bengaluru City police and DCPNEBCP for their prompt action. He also wrote that he and his wife have been humbled by the amount of support they received from everyone. Patri tweeted,
Update: The culprits have been identified and brought to book. I am thankful to @DCPNEBCP and @BlrCityPolice for the swift and decisive action. We are humbled by the flood of support coming in from friends, family, society members,activist groups, media houses and thousands of…
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 11, 2022
citizens. It has been truly cathartic. If it were not for a powerful platform of self-expression like Twitter, our voices would not have resonated beyond the four walls of our society. So thank you, @Twitter. We are also pained to read about similar experiences in …
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 11, 2022
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Thanking Twitter, he also requested others to speak out, as it might work for them as it worked for him.
the comments. My request to them is to speak it out, whether among your community or on social media. Bring it to the attention of the right officials. If it has worked for me, it could work for you. Satyameva Jayathe!
— Karthik Patri (@Karthik_Patri) December 11, 2022
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