Hyderabad Police has started searching ganja and drugs on roads now. They were seen checking vehicles of local commuters in search of the same. Their search operation is, however, very strange as police officers were seen checking Whatsapp chats of locals in a video. They stopped them and ask for mobile phones to search for words like ganja and drugs.
A user named Srinivas Kodali has posted a video on Twitter showing how Hyderabad Police is conducting this unique anti-drug drive. The video quickly captured the attention of many users who are calling it a breach of privacy.
Watch The Full Video Here:
New policing practices alert: stop and search phone chats by the @hydcitypolice. Police are searching phone chats for words like ganja. Wait until they replace words with NRC, Modi or BJP. pic.twitter.com/1lNjvKRIgk
— Srinivas Kodali (@digitaldutta) October 27, 2021
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Several viewers watched the video and re-tweeted as well asking “is it legal to check phones?”
Is it legal? How can police randomly check the phones without any order from court? Not sure a order from police dept to their team is legal.
— Ajay Kumar Matta (@ajaykumar_mak) October 27, 2021
“Ganja fuka kya” is common lingo in Hyderabad if someone makes exaggerated claims. Should city people avoid using it?
— Sapien (@Sapien_here) October 27, 2021
This is too much how can they ask for the phone…
— Gladiator Jeet (@djeetender) October 27, 2021
Rather frisking public / commuters everywhere on roads, setup entry and exit checkpoints across the city roads & highways and increase the surveillance near pubs and other suspicious places for thorough checks. #Hyderabad
— शकीब शुवेब | شكيب شويب (@ShakeebShuweb) October 27, 2021
One of the users has even shared the same incident
Me and Brother was going towards Mangalhatt And same Happened with me ! Policemen asked to open Whatsapp and searched keywords and surprisingly some of the groups were having those words they interrogated on road and after finding nothing they asked to leave! I was shocked!!
— Sober_Guy (@PMNoor_official) October 27, 2021
Few users even appreciated the efforts by Police.
For every good work, someone like you would always be there, criticising.
Good to see police doing checking but no challans for not wearing Helmets.— Laxman Rao Veldurti (@laxmanvrao) October 27, 2021
Hyderabad Police has started an anti-drug drive to identify small drug peddlers and aware youth about the same. Five teams of more than 100 policemen are conducting this special search at different areas like Rajendra Nagar, Bhoiguda Kaman, Dhooplet, Mangalhat, Jumerat Bazar, and more.
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RTC buses, two-wheelers, cars, autos, and even pedestrians on roads are being checked under this drive. They are not only searching for ganja, drugs but also seizing those with gutkha, zarda, and tobacco.