Video: Police break into textile factory, beat weavers to enforce lockdown in Malegaon

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Video: Police break into textile factory, beat weavers to enforce lockdown in Malegaon

Reports of police beating the weavers out to buy essentials in other areas of Malegaon are also emerging

Thursday April 2, 2020 6:14 PM, ummid.com Staff Reporter

[Screen grab of the video footage. Local police said they are verifying the veracity of the viral video.]

Malegaon: In a shocking incident showing yet another instance of state brutality, three Police Personnel Monday purportedly broke into a non-operational textile factory in Malegaon and mercilessly beat the weavers and the technical supervisor to enforce coronavirus lockdown.

The incident allegedly occurred Monday at around 12:30 pm in the Ramzanpura area of Malegaon during the time it is assumed that the lockdown is eased so that people can go and buy essential goods.

What makes the entire incident questionable is that the powerloom unit was not operational when the police personnel purportedly broke into it and beat the technical supervisor and three machine operators - a total of 04 if one goes by Section 144 which bars gathering of more than five people.

All the four are also seen in the video wearing face mask.

Watch the video

The video shows three policemen, one of them climbing the gallery on the first floor and breaking into the powerloom unit from upstairs. He then opens the door and invites other police personnel to enter the premises.

The three policemen start beating those inside even as they pleaded and tried to explain the situation, as seemingly evident from the video.

"My powerloom unit is yet to become operational. We were busy with the installation of new powerlooms. We were wearing the face mask even while being inside the premises. I had also locked the factory so that nobody could go out", Anwer Hussain, the powerloom unit owner, said while talking to ummid.com.

"We tried to explain this to the policemen. But, they did not pay any heed and started beating", he added.

Reports of police beating from other areas

Reports of police beating the weavers out to buy essentials in other areas of Malegaon are also emerging even as local associations said almost all the powerloom units in the city are shut since last Tuesday when the lockdown was announced.

"This is shameful. Malegaon textile industry is famous for its 24x7 work culture. Powerloom units are shut only during emergencies and festival periods. During such time, powerloom owners do some maintenance or other related work."

"What we see in the video footage is a yet-to-become-operational unit with newly installed looms. It is beyond our understanding how few people working on installation or the maintenance work inside a powerloom unit can violate the lockdown norms and invite such ruthless beating", Altaf Ameen of Malegaon Industries & Manufacturers Association (MIMA) said.

'Policemen not from Malegaon'

When contacted, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Malegaon Sandip Ghuge said they are verifying the video clip and suitable action will be taken against those found guilty.

"We are still verifying the veracity of the video and location where it was actually shot. After verification whoever is found guilty will be punished as per the law", he told ummid.com.

"As of now, I can just say that the policemen seen in the footage are not from Malegaon police", he added.

Meanwhile, Ramzanpura Police Station Incharge Thursday called on Anwer Hussain and expressed regret over the incident.

"The PSI of Ramzanpura Police Station had come to meet me today afternoon. He expressed regret over what had happened to me and my staff", Anwer Hussain said.

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