Cops 'manhandle' two TV journos in Hyd, enquiry ordered

Hyderabad: Two journalists from electronic media were allegedly manhandled by police personnel at Gandhi Bhavan here, following which Police Commissioner M Mahendar Reddy today ordered an enquiry into the incident. In a video footage, a group of policemen were purportedly seen pushing aside the journalists and arguing with them.

The journalists claimed they had gone to Gandhi Bhavan to cover the protest/rally organised by the contractual lecturers of government junior and degree colleges against the alleged delay in fulfilling their demands, especially the long-pending one for regularisation of services. Following the incident, a group of journalists called upon the city top cop and sought action against the policemen for "manhandling" the two journalists and "misbehaving" with them. "An enquiry has been ordered into the alleged incident of manhandling of members of the media by police in the process of arresting agitators at Gandhi Bhavan in morning," the police commissioner said.

The DCP (Central Zone) has been appointed as enquiry officer and has been asked to submit his report at the earliest after conducting a detailed enquiry, he said. "Necessary disciplinary action will be initiated based on the findings of the enquiry report," the top cop said. In a related development, a sub-inspector of Task Force, Thimappa has been withdrawn from duty and is asked to report in Head Office pending receipt of enquiry report, he added.