Erode, Tamil Nadu, Feb 9 A video purportedly showing a police officer verbally abusing a migrant worker employed at a roadside eatery here has gone viral, and authorities said on Monday that the errant constable has been placed under suspension following his transfer to the Armed Reserve.
The main opposition AIADMK and the BJP in Tamil Nadu strongly condemned the incident and demanded appropriate action. While the AIADMK criticized law enforcement officials under the DMK regime for "becoming law breakers," the BJP stated that the incident was a result of DMK leaders using unacceptable terms like "Vadakkan" (Northerner) to target guest workers from the north.
The police officer, reportedly furious, allegedly slapped the migrant worker, which was not visible in the video footage, police said. The incident reportedly occurred on the night of February 8.
The footage also shows the officer warning the worker against opening the eatery the next morning and allegedly using abusive language against him. The officer was reportedly heard saying, "Close the shop and leave. If you open the shop tomorrow morning, I will cut your legs."
The video clip from a CCTV camera at the eatery in the Kanchikoil area allegedly shows the officer questioning the guest worker in a threatening manner about his origin and a verbal altercation appears to have ensued.
The officer reportedly asked about the time, which was past 10 PM, and directed that the shop be closed. He allegedly pushed away some cooking utensils and other items using his baton.
The officer reportedly intimidated the guest worker, who stated that he was merely an employee and that the owner was in a better position to answer questions.
The upset worker could be heard boldly asking in Tamil, "Why did you beat me?" and also showed the camera and said that everything was being recorded.
When the officer asked if he was "beating a policeman," the migrant worker pointed to the camera and stated that it was actually the officer who was holding his shirt.
Police authorities said that the errant constable, pending an inquiry, has been transferred to the Armed Reserve unit. Hours later, Head Constable Mohankumar attached to the Kanchikoil Police Station was suspended, according to an official police release here.
The guest worker was identified as Mondal.
The AIADMK strongly condemned the incident and demanded strong action against the officer involved.
AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan told PTI: "Law enforcement officials have become law breakers under the DMK regime. Migrant workers come to Tamil Nadu to work and live with dignity. They contribute to the economy of Tamil Nadu and they are one of the reasons for the state's development into the second largest economy in the country."
He added, especially in light of the perception that migrant workers are not treated well in Tamil Nadu due to incidents like the recent brutal attack on a young man from Odisha, that such incidents must be prevented.
Demanding action, he said this could not be expected from the head of the police force, as he is a "puppet," the AIADMK spokesperson alleged.
The Tamil Nadu BJP reacted by criticizing the DMK regime and alleged that it has brought humiliation to the state. The BJP alleged that since DMK leaders had used derogatory terms to target migrant workers from northern parts of the country, some from the police department itself have now used abusive language against guest workers.
In a social media post, the BJP wondered if there were rules prohibiting the operation of shops beyond 10 PM or if the DMK regime had enacted a special law for migrant workers.
It listed terms including "Vadakkan" and "Panipuri vendor" allegedly used by some to ridicule migrant workers and alleged that the current incident was the outcome of "DMK leaders" using such unacceptable language to target guest workers from the north.
Former Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai said that the police are authorized to enforce the law. However, they do not have the right to inflict damage on property or to harass, abuse, or assault migrant workers.
"When such conduct is witnessed within the Tamil Nadu state police itself, it is hardly surprising that migrant workers across the state are increasingly subjected to physical and verbal abuse under the watch of the corrupt DMK government," he alleged in a statement.
Further, he said: "It is high time we recognise and acknowledge the indispensable contribution of migrant workers to Tamil Nadu's economy. From the construction of Metro Rail projects and National Highways to residential buildings, factories, and small production units, every pillar of our economic activity rests significantly on their labour. To deny them dignity is to undermine our own growth."
These disturbing incidents are the inevitable outcome of years of hatred being systematically sown against migrant workers for narrow political gains by the DMK.