‘Abuse of power': Kerala man alleges Bengaluru cop checked his WhatsApp and hidden photos in phone gallery
Vishnu, a Kerala man working in Bengaluru, was allegedly stopped by a cop while returning to his place of stay. According to the now-viral Thread, the incident occurred on May 6 near Hebbal Kempapura when he ran into his college batchmate and stopped to catch up.
Sharing details about the incident, Vishnu claimed that a cop on his motorcycle pulled up after he saw him speaking to his college friend on the streets, and went on to question them 'aggressively'. Further, Vishnu alleged that the cop demanded his phone and searched his WhatsApp and scrolled through the 'Hidden' album and the 'recently deleted' album.
'He asked where we're from, what we were doing, etc. We politely said we're from Kerala. Without any reason, he took my friend's phone and started checking WhatsApp and the gallery. Even searched my name on his phone. We felt humiliated. Then he demanded my phone. I hesitated. I told him I have private stuff and it's my personal device. He forcefully took it, searched my WhatsApp, scrolled through photos. Then demanded I open my Hidden Album and Recently Deleted,' Vishnu wrote in his post.
When the man hesitated to show his personal photos, the police officer called him a 'suspect' and demanded cooperation. 'After wasting over 30 minutes, he said, 'Next time police ask for your phone, you must give it.' No explanation, no respect. Just abuse of power. I felt disgusted. I'd heard of these incidents — now I've lived it,' he wrote.
Vishnu also said that he filed formal complaints and also reached out to the media for support. 'All I want is to feel safe in this city. I'm not against the system — I'm against the misuse of power,' he said.
See here:
A similar incident took place last year where a cop checked a man's phone who was caught smoking in public. According to the Reddit post, the Bengaluru cop checked the accused's phone and further demanded to read WhatsApp chats.
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