Cops tonsure youngsters for combing hair in front of SI, one attempts suicide

According to reports, three youngsters from Lingala had an argument with staff at a fuel station. After the staff filed a complaint, a sub-inspector arrived, took the trio to the police station, and, angered by one of them combing his hair in front of him, had their heads shaved.

Nagarkurnool: A youngster attempted to die by suicide after the police tonsured his head and of two others, allegedly for combing his hair in front of a Sub-Inspector at Lingala in the district. The youngster has been shifted to Government General Hospital, Nagarkurnool where his condition was stated to be critical. The incident occurred four days ago but came to light today.

According to available information, three youngsters from Lingala had entered into an argument with the staff at a fuel station over an issue. After the fuel station staff complained to the police, one SI reached the spot and took the three youngsters to the police station. Irked over one of the youngsters combing his hair before him, the SI got their heads tonsured.

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Feeling humiliated over the incident, one of the youngsters attempted to hang himself to death at his house. He was rushed to hospital, where he was battling for life, according to reports.

Meanwhile, the BRS has come out strongly condemning the highhandedness of the police in the district. Former MLAs Guvvala Balaraju and B Harshavardhan Reddy along with others said the the police and government were also trying to downplay the incident.

Addressing media persons at Hyderabad on Saturday, Balaraju said a tense situation was prevailing in Achampet, Kollapur and Kalwakurthy constituencies. The three intermediate students were harassed for four days and their heads were tonsured, he said.

“Youngsters, who take selfies with us, are also being harassed and cases are being booked against them by the police. If people raised objections against the government, they are being subjected to inconvenience, besides being threatened of dire consequences,” the former MLA said.

“Farmers in Balmoor mandal are being threatened to sell off their lands for low prices. The ruling party leaders are influencing the police not to book SC / ST atrocities cases. We will take up the issue before the National Human Rights Commission,” Balaraju said.

Demanding the government to initiate stern action against the police personnel involved in the incident, Harshavardhan Reddy asked as to why no action was taken against the SI.

It was three months since BRS leader Sridhar Reddy was murdered in Kollapur and the police have not caught the accused. If any disturbances occurred in villages, ruling party leaders were being spared and no action was being taken against them, he said, adding that police were threatening the victims.