Fact Check: AP police give ‘lathi treatment’ for bike stunts, harassing women? No, find the truth here
A video showing Andhra Pradesh police brutally striking three individuals across their soles with lathis is going viral with various claims.
By K Sherly Sharon
Claim:The video shows three youths being given ‘lathi treatment’ by Andhra police for performing bike stunts and drunkenly harassing women.
Fact:The claim is false. The video shows Andhra police publicly punishing three individuals accused of assaulting a constable.
Hyderabad: A graphic video showing police giving lathi treatment to three youngsters on the road while a crowd is watching is going viral on social media.
A police officer is seen striking them across their soles with a lathi as they flinch and cry out in pain. Towards the end of the video, another police officer is seen restraining a man by stepping on his knees as he is being struck.
The video was shared on Facebook with the claim that the youngsters were punished for performing bike stunts. The text on the video read, “Andhra police are giving a hot dose of punishment to those doing bike wheeling. Karnataka police should also give the same punishment to those who do bike wheeling.” (Translated from Kannada) (Archive)
The same video was shared on Instagram with the claim that the video shows three people facing punishment for harassing women. The text on the video reads, “If there is law and order, then it should be like this. No crime will happen in the country... Those who come at night, after drinking, and harass women.” (Translated from Tamil)
The caption on the Instagram post read, “If the Tamil Nadu Police Department, like other states in India, were to impose such punishment on drunk men who drive around on two-wheelers at night, crimes would decrease by 50%.” (Translated from Tamil) (Archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claims are false. The video shows Andhra Pradesh police giving ‘lathi treatment’ to those accused of beating up a police constable.
Using keyword search, we found a Times of India report published on May 27 with the title, ‘Andhra Pradesh cops pin down 3 men on road, beat them with sticks for attacking on constable.’ The report used a screenshot from the viral video.
The report stated that the incident shows Andhra police beating up three people accused of assaulting a police constable.
Quoting a Tenali Two Town Police official, Ramulu Naik, TOI wrote, “The incident occurred nearly a month ago when the trio, along with another individual identified as ‘Killer’, allegedly attacked Constable Kanna Chiranjeevi while under the influence of ganja. The constable was reportedly hospitalised following the assault. A case was subsequently registered based on his complaint.”
The accused were identified as Chebrolu John Victor (25), Shaik Babulal (21) and Doma Rakesh (25). The video of the assault went viral on social media long after the three accused were arrested.
ABN Andhra Jyothi published a report on May 26 titled ‘Tenali Police: Police punish rowdy sheeters on the road’. The report also used a screenshot from the viral video. The report mentioned that the accused attacked the constable on April 25. They were arrested and produced before the court on April 26.
DSP Janardhana Rao responded to the incident, stating that there was a rowdy sheet against the three individuals. Despite multiple warnings in the past, there had been no change in their behaviour.
A News18 report stated that the cop seen striking the three individuals was suspended.
NewsMeter concluded that the different claims about the video are false. The video shows Andhra police assaulting three individuals accused of assaulting a constable.
