Fear on Bengaluru Roads: Locals Share Experiences of Late-Night Police Checks and False Accusations

A Bengaluru resident recounted a distressing encounter with the police near Harlur. While returning from a badminton game, he and his friend were stopped by officers who searched their bags. They found alum (fitkari) and mistakenly identified it as drugs, leading to accusations of drug possession. The two were taken to the police station, where they faced hours of stress and scrutiny.

During the ordeal, the police examined their phones and chats for any signs of illegal activity. It took nearly two hours before they were allowed to leave, leaving them exhausted. This incident isn't isolated; the individual mentioned that another friend had been stopped multiple times in recent months while using various modes of transport late at night.

Police Checks on Bengaluru Roads Cause Fear

The individual shared their experience on X (formerly Twitter), stating that while heading to a friend's place after playing badminton, they were stopped by cops near Harlur. The officers immediately began searching their bags, finding fitkari in one of them. Mistaking it for MDM, they took his friend to the police station while demanding confessions.

Upon reaching the station, an officer recognised it as alum used post-shave but was still sceptical. They demanded phones and searched for words like 'ganja’ or 'weed’ on WhatsApp, misinterpreting casual conversations as incriminating evidence. After checking their gallery and realising their mistake, they finally let them go around 3 am.

Public Shares Similar Experiences Online

Reacting to this post, others shared similar stories. One user recalled being stopped during COVID times around 2 am after dropping a friend at the airport. The police searched his bag frantically and confiscated five cans of beer before letting him go. Another recounted being accused of smelling like weed and extorted for 20k INR.

Many expressed concerns over such incidents, questioning under which law officers are allowed to check personal chats and galleries casually. Some warned about potential impersonators posing as officers to steal phones or even attempt kidnappings. These experiences have left residents feeling unsafe due to arbitrary accusations without proper evidence.

An individual highlighted the importance of knowing legal rights when dealing with policemen in such situations. The fear of being falsely accused or extorted has become a common concern among Bengaluru residents due to these frequent checks on roads.