A employee from West Bengal final week filed a grievance with the Karnataka State Human Rights Fee (KSHRC) alleging that the Bengaluru police have been concentrating on migrant staff and small shopkeepers to extort cash and threatening to ebook them beneath the Cigarettes and Different Tobacco Merchandise Act (COTPA).
The Bengaluru police have categorically denied the allegation, saying they have been conducting particular drives in opposition to public smoking, and the sale of unfastened cigarettes.
In his grievance filed on July 3, Lalchand Sheikh, who lives in Varthur, alleged that the native police have been amassing bribes from greater than 100 outlets.
Sheikh, a shopkeeper representing the affected migrant group, mentioned the police harassment has intensified following the crackdown on unfastened cigarette and tobacco gross sales. In line with the grievance, officers have been amassing weekly and month-to-month bribes starting from Rs 200 to Rs 3,000 per store, overtly threatening arrest or harassment for non-compliance.
The victims are primarily migrant staff from West Bengal and their households dwelling in casual settlements throughout Varthur.
Sheikh has included audio and video recordings in his grievance, allegedly exhibiting policemen amassing bribes, offering proof of what he describes as a “grave and ongoing violation of human rights, police misconduct, and abuse of energy.”
The complainant said that the police forcibly seized his fingerprint machine, important for identification and documentation work for labourers. He mentioned the law enforcement officials at the moment are demanding Rs 23,000 for its return, and repeatedly summoning him to the police station.
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“That is blatant theft and extortion,” the complainant alleged, highlighting how the harassment impacts not simply commerce however important providers for the migrant group.
Shivakumar Gunare, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Whitefield, advised The Indian Specific he was conscious of the grievance.
“We’ve been conducting drives in opposition to public smoking, and the sale of unfastened cigarettes. Greater than 200 instances have been filed, and fines have been collected. Following the drives, some are attempting to plant such allegations. If there’s any specific incident, they will report it to me or different law enforcement officials, and motion shall be initiated,” he mentioned.