The Army personnel was manhandled by the Andhra Pradesh police on 7 November, when he refused to share the OTP he received for the Disha app installation.
Published Nov 09, 2023 | 2:36 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 09, 2023 | 2:36 PM
A screenshot from the viral video. (X)
The Andhra Pradesh police on Thursday, 9 November, placed four police personnel — B Shoba, M Muthaya Naidu, A Devallu, and P Ramesh, under suspension, following an altercation with an Army personnel on Tuesday, 7 November.
The Andhra Pradesh police expressed regret over the incident and promised strict action.
Sharing the Order of Suspension on X, they said that the incident has tarnished the image of the police department in the public.
The order further read, “They (four police personnel) shall continue to be under suspension until conclusion of the disciplinary proceedings/termination of all proceedings relating to the criminal charge(s).”
The Army personnel, Syed Aleemullah — stationed at the Rashtriya Rifles Camp in Jammu and Kashmir — hails from Elamanchili in the Anakapalli district of Andhra Pradesh.
DGP Office-AndhraPradesh- Swift Action on Police Personnel involved in misconduct & misbehaviour with an Army Jawan in Anakapalli (D): AP Police regret the sorrowful incident happened to the serving Army soldier in Parawada limits.(1/2) pic.twitter.com/CrSUz8VL0R
— Andhra Pradesh Police (@APPOLICE100) November 9, 2023
A Disha awareness camp was held in Anakapalli, where on Tuesday, an unfortunate incident occurred. An Army person was manhandled by the Andhra Pradesh police when he refused to share the OTP he received for the app installation.
Disha is a free Android app developed by the Andhra Pradesh government to ensure the safety of women and citizens in emergency situations.
Local sources said, “While he was waiting for a bus in the Paravada Mandal at 9.30 am on Tuesday, constables Muthyala Naidu and Shobha Rani approached Aleemullah, urging him to install the Disha app on his phone.”
They added, “When asked for the OTP, Aleemullah declined to share it, requesting the constables to show their police IDs for verification. The constables, in turn, suggested that he visit the police station where they would provide their ID cards. The police personnel then continued to insist that he share the OTP, which led to a heated exchange of words.”
#AndhraPradesh cops mishandled an army personnel in #Anakapalli over installation of #Disha App. The dispute arises after the jawan denied sharing the OTP. An investigation has been ordered by the Anakapllli SP & four policemen have been sent on vacancy reserve.@TheSouthfirst pic.twitter.com/qU1c0yNYDL
— Bhaskar Basava (@bhaskar_basava_) November 8, 2023
The woman constable in the video, however, told the locals that the soldier used offensive language against her when asked to share the OTP.
Following the dispute, other police officers physically restrained him and shifted him to the police station.
The video of the incident gained widespread attention as it spread on social media, highlighting the forcible installation of government apps.
The suspension order also specified that the Parawada Police Station of Anakapalli District shall be paid subsistence allowance equivalent to the leave salary on half average pay, subject to the condition that they shall furnish a certificate every month that they are not engaged in any other employment.
