Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 21: Postgraduate student Harshada Borade has alleged that the Bandra police's anti-terrorism cell searched her residence for more than nine hours without a warrant and mistreated her friends following her participation in a pro-Palestine kite-flying campaign on September 15.
Borade has also alleged that the owner of the house has since asked her to vacate the premises.
In a video posted on Sunday, Borade claimed that at least 15 police personnel searched her residence from 5 pm on Friday until 3 am on Saturday without serving her any legal notice or producing a warrant.
She alleged that some of the personnel were in plain clothes and refused to show their identification. According to Borade, the personnel forcibly entered her personal space, examined her notebooks and diaries, recorded the titles of books and photographed and videographed her belongings.
The Bandra police have not registered an FIR against Borade and are gathering details and conducting a background check on her.
DCP (West Zone-2) Mohit Garg said an inquiry was underway “in accordance with procedures established by law”.
Indian People In Solidarity With Palestine (IPSP), of which Borade is an activist, said six to seven personnel in plain clothes arrived at her residence and identified themselves as police personnel.
The organisation alleged that Borade was detained without any written notice and was later taken back to her residence.
IPSP further alleged that the search continued until after 2.30 am on September 19 and that Borade's friends were allegedly manhandled and abused during the operation.
According to the organisation, two volunteers were handcuffed and their mobile phones confiscated. It also alleged that those present were threatened with legal action and physical violence.
IPSP said the panchnama prepared in connection with the search linked the police action to a nationwide kite-flying campaign expressing solidarity with children in Gaza.
The organisation claimed that the panchnama listed books and quotations by freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and social reformer Savitribai Phule among the items found at the residence.
IPSP also alleged that the panchnama stated that the search had not been pre-planned and was authorised by senior police officials after police personnel found Borade's “behaviour suspicious”.
The allegations come amid the police inquiry into Borade's activities following her participation in the pro-Palestine campaign. The police have not registered an FIR against her so far, while the circumstances surrounding the search and the allegations made by Borade and IPSP are being examined.