Police deny misconduct by plainclothes officer in viral protest clip
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Mumbai: The Mumbai Police on Friday said a viral video allegedly showing a plainclothes officer manhandling a woman during a protest was being misread, and that the officer was actually trying to restrain a male protester when the woman came in between.
The police said senior officers reviewed the footage and found no basis for the misconduct allegations. They described the interpretation circulating on social media as “extremely irresponsible and incorrect.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Akbar Pathan said the officer was holding on to a male protester while looking away, and that the woman protester inadvertently stepped into the frame. He added that the video had been carefully examined by senior officers before the clarification was issued.
The row began after Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad shared the clip on social media, while NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar demanded action against the officer. Police said no case has been registered so far.
The protest was held at Shivaji Park in Dadar on Thursday, where students and activists had gathered to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.