Kodad CI accused of manhandling man during protest over pan shop demolition
The alleged highhanded behaviour of Kodad town police against a pan shop owner and her brother at Yadavnagar on Friday drew strong criticism from various sections. Kanakamma has been running a pan shop at Yadavnagar in Kodad for the past 30 years. There are nearly 200 other roadside shops in the area. However, municipal officials demolished her shop while leaving the others untouched, according to local residents.
Protesting the demolition, Kanakamma and her brother Upendra squatted on the road and sought an explanation from the municipal officials. Police personnel rushed to the spot and tried to clear them from the road. As Upendra objected to what he described as discriminatory action, Kodad CI Shiva Shankar allegedly grabbed him by the neck and pushed him to the ground. A video of the incident, which is circulating on social media, shows the police officer pushing away family members, including women, who tried to intervene before dragging Upendra towards a police van.
Upendra was subsequently bundled into the vehicle and taken to the police station. Objecting to the police action, the women sat in front of the police van in protest. The incident has also triggered allegations of political targeting. According to reports, Upendra, who contested the recent municipal elections as a BRS councillor candidate, had shared a social media post criticising local Congress leaders.
Protesting the demolition, Kanakamma and her brother Upendra squatted on the road and sought an explanation from the municipal officials. Police personnel rushed to the spot and tried to clear them from the road. As Upendra objected to what he described as discriminatory action, Kodad CI Shiva Shankar allegedly grabbed him by the neck and pushed him to the ground. A video of the incident, which is circulating on social media, shows the police officer pushing away family members, including women, who tried to intervene before dragging Upendra towards a police van.
Upendra was subsequently bundled into the vehicle and taken to the police station. Objecting to the police action, the women sat in front of the police van in protest. The incident has also triggered allegations of political targeting. According to reports, Upendra, who contested the recent municipal elections as a BRS councillor candidate, had shared a social media post criticising local Congress leaders.