Hyderabad: Tension flared in Tenali town of Guntur district after a disturbing video surfaced showing local police thrashing two Dalit youths on a public road with lathis. The youths, residents of Ithanagar, were accused of attacking a constable under the influence of ganja but they insist the truth is quite different.
The incident occurred in broad daylight, with police making the youths sit on the road before raining blows on their legs. The footage has since gone viral, sparking outrage on social media and among rights groups.
According to the victims, the constable in question, identified as Chiranjeevi, had demanded a bribe from them earlier. They allege that after they refused to pay, he retaliated by falsely implicating them in a drug case and orchestrating their public humiliation.
“We didn’t attack anyone. He asked for a bribe, and we said no. This is revenge – he beat us and filed a fake case to cover his corruption,” one of the youths said, speaking from the hospital where they were being treated for injuries.
Meanwhile, police have claimed the youths were under the influence of ganja and attacked Chiranjeevi during a routine check. An official version of the events is yet to be released by district authorities.
Local Dalit organisations have demanded immediate suspension of the constable and a judicial inquiry into the alleged custodial violence. “This is not policing, it is savagery on the streets,” said a community leader in Tenali.
Human rights activists have also condemned the incident, calling it a blatant abuse of power and a test case for the state’s commitment to protect marginalised communities.