Hyderabad: Controversy broke out on Thursday after Armed Reserve (AR) constables handcuffed a farmer who was earlier arrested for his alleged role in the outbreak of violence in Lagacherla in Vikarabad.
Heerya Naik, who has a heart-related ailment, was brought to a hospital for a medical check-up. During this time, he was found accompanied by two AR constables, and the under-trial was handcuffed. A video showing the farmer in handcuffs while being transported in a police vehicle and during treatment went viral.
“The constables have done it out of ignorance. Recently, there were a couple of cases of prisoners escaping while they were being taken out. To avoid such occurrence, the constables handcuffed the accused,” sources in Vikarabad police said, while giving a clarification.
After conducting an inquiry, senior prison authorities at the Sangareddy district jail fixed the responsibility against the jailer and suspended him. In an internal order, the jailer sought services of Balanagar AR personnel instead of Vikarabad authorities.
Meanwhile, sources in Telangana police claim the incident was a conspiracy engineered by a key accused in the case, who is in judicial remand.
“Another under-trial who is legally permitted to use prison provided phone to talk to his family, shared the information about the ill-health of the accused with his relative to make an issue out of it,” sources told TOI.
The sources added that”but when Naik reached the hospital, the handcuffs were captured on the camera and this became a controversy.”
