HYDERABAD: Reflecting on the repercussions of widespread availability of liquor, advocate general A Sudarsan Reddy on Friday admitted before the AP high court that the Nellore policehad committed a mistake by not registering an FIR in a case where a 62-year-old hotel worker was beaten up by the cops. "But there is no other way in which the police can control the law and order problem erupting regularly due to the unabated sale of liquor at the nearby wine shop," the AG said.
Justice Ramesh Ranganathan was hearing a plea by Vakati Penchalaiah, the 62-year-old worker in a roadside hotel, who was allegedly beaten up by the cops in a tussle regarding liquor in August 2013. The petitioner, who sustained injuries, told the court that the police had not registered an FIR even though he registered a complaint and brought the issue to the notice of higher authorities.
In accordance with an earlier order of the judge, the area DSP was present in court. The judge then addressed a critical remark to the AG: "We both will attain the age of that poor worker in the next six years. Imagine when we walk on the road, somebody beat us and the police won't even take our complaint. First, think of the penury of the man who is under pressure to work even at this age. Why is our system turning insensitive towards the plight of a common man? We reached a state that even justifies the inaction of the police."
Informing the court that the state police have started acting against the errant cops, the AG insisted that in chaotic situations, the police are left with no option but to use force even though the law does not permit them. The AG also narrated a series of unruly incidents in the area, triggered mainly by the unabated sale of liquor.
The judge gave one week to the police to inform it of the action taken in the matter.
