Case against ASHA worker for ‘slapping’ police officer during protest in Hyderabad – India TV

An Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) allegedly slapped a police officer during a protest demanding a pay rise, police said. ASHA women workers who gathered near the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) office were demanding that the Telangana Congress government fulfill its promises of increasing their salaries to Rs 18,000 per month.

As police attempted to arrest them and place them in preventive detention, one of the female protesters allegedly slapped the guard at the Sultan Bazaar police station after her food appeared to be “stuck” in the vehicle door.

Videos and clips of the incident circulated on social media platforms and an official said police had launched an investigation into the protest after registering a complaint. The woman and 11 others were booked under sections 126 (2), 127 (2), 221, 223 (a) and 132 r/w 3 (5) of the BNS for assault and obstruction of public servants on duty.

Chaos was unleashed on Monday afternoon as police tried to disperse protesters who were demanding an increase in their pay to Rs 18,000, double their current salary (Rs 9,000).

In the video taken at the scene, the woman is seen screaming and crying while her leg was stuck in the vehicle door before slapping the SHO. Soon after, female police officers and officials were seen quickly intervening in the situation.

The workers were then escorted to a nearby police station. “When we asked them to move off the road, they did not comply, after which the staff tried to disperse them. However, one of the protesters hit our inspector and officers,” said ACP Sultan K Shankar Bazaar.

(With inputs from PTI)