TIRUPATI: Controversy has erupted after a woman police officer of Srikalahasti slapped a Jana Sena Party (JSP) worker during a protest on Wednesday.
Sources said tension began building up when JSP workers attempted to burn an effigy of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and police tried to prevent them from doing so.
This led to heated arguments amid which circle inspector Anju Yadav slapped one of the protesters, identified as Kotte Sai, across both cheeks.
JSP leaders have condemned the police officer’s behaviour, accusing her of acting like a member of the ruling YSR Congress.
When contacted, the circle inspector said Police Act 30 has been in force in the town for the last month, which requires permission for political protests. However, JSP workers staged their protest in the Kalyana Mandapam area, the busiest junction in town used by devotees to reach the temple.
"Moreover, they attempted to burn an effigy. In presence of a large crowd, it could lead to any unforeseen incident. Initially, we requested the activists to stop. But when they persisted, we had to use minimal police force to remove the effigy. A JSP activist, however, attempted to snatch the effigy from police, used abusive language and tried to ignite the effigy. It was at that moment that I slapped the activist,” Anju Yadav explained.
The video capturing the CI slapping the JSP worker has gone viral on social media, intensifying the uproar surrounding the incident.
Jana Sena has demanded action against the CI for her action.
