BRS women leaders demand action over police assault on ASHA workers

The protest, organised to demand the fulfillment of a electoral promise by the Congress to increase ASHA workers’ salaries from Rs 9,750 to Rs 18,000, turned violent when police intervened.

Hyderabad: BRS women leaders lodged a formal complaint with the Telangana State Women’s Commission on Tuesday, condemning the alleged police brutality against ASHA workers during a peaceful protest in Koti on Monday. They accused senior police officials, including ACP Shankar and CI Srinivas Chari, of using excessive force and outraging the modesty of women protestors.

The protest, organised to demand the fulfillment of a electoral promise by the Congress to increase ASHA workers’ salaries from Rs 9,750 to Rs 18,000, turned violent when police intervened. According to the complaint, male officers used filthy language and dragged women ASHA workers, slapped them, and pulled their sarees. “This outrageous behaviour by law enforcement has caused severe emotional and psychological trauma to the victims,” the complaint read.

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BRS leaders pointed out that ASHA workers, who have long served the State, were subjected to “inhuman treatment”, while peacefully protesting against unkept promises for salary enhancement made by then TPCC president and current Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. The leaders urged the Women’s Commission to investigate the incident thoroughly, and ensure disciplinary action against the officer responsible to prevent such misconduct in the future. They also called for intervention from the National Commission for Women to uphold the dignity and rights of the ASHA workers.

Video and photographic evidence of the incident, reportedly captured by news outlets, also has been submitted to support the complaint.

Speaking on the occasion, senior BRS leader Thula Uma said a series of police action on women across the State indicate the lack of respect for the Revanth Reddy government towards them. “It is shameful that the police misbehaved with ASHA workers on the same day when the Chief Minister unveiled the new statue of Telangana Thalli at the State Secretariat,” she said, adding that the Commission chairperson assured to investigate the incident and initiate necessary action.