Video of Mumbai cops thrashing women goes viral, probe ordered

Police has ordered an enquiry into an alleged manhandling of two women at a famous pandal in central Mumbai on Friday night after a video of the purported incident went viral on social media, triggering outrage.

Police has ordered an enquiry into an alleged manhandling of two women at a famous pandal in central Mumbai on Friday night after a video of the purported incident went viral on social media, triggering outrage.

A video grab from IBN Live shows women constables beating up a woman. (YouTube/IBNLive)

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis also sought a clarification from Mumbai Police on the incident that happened at the popular Lalbaugcha Raja pandal, a prominent location for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai.

The viral video, which appears to have been shot with a mobile phone, shows female police constables dragging the two women and slapping them repeatedly. One of the women is seen fighting back the constables in the recording.

“An assistant commissioner of police rank officer is probing the incident which occurred on Friday night. Investigation is on pertaining to the exact reason,” said a police officer. Police sources said the exact reason behind the brawl was still unclear.

The women were taken to Kalachowkey police station where they were fined Rs 1,200 under the Maharashtra Police Act. On Friday night, a female journalist was also allegedly detained for hours outside the same pandal till the wee hours of the morning. Her phone was seized and she was let off after being fined.

Fadnavis told the media he took cognizance of the news and asked the police to clarify about the same.