HYDERABAD: Senior IPS officer R. P. Meena in Andhra Pradesh found himself in the thick of a major controversy when he allegedly manhandled a photographer of a leading vernacular daily recording a demonstration at the legal metrology office in Musheerabad here on Thursday.

Mr. Meena, who is the Inspector-General and Controller Legal Metrology, allegedly rained blows on the photographer and snatched his camera.

This happened when women's organisations were readying for a demonstration demanding action against Deputy Controller of the Legal Metrology Department U. Vimal Babu on the charge of sexual harassment of a woman employee.

At this stage, the IPS officer confronted them saying "there was no prior notice", resulting in the fracas.

With journalist unions raising a strong protest against Mr. Meena's `high-handed behaviour', CPI (M) MP P. Madhu, city MLAs G. Kishen Reddy and G. Sayanna besides leaders of various political parties and women's organisations staged a `rasta roko' at RTC X Roads and raised slogans against the IG.

As the episode began snowballing into a major confrontation, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy summoned Mr. Meena to his office and ordered an internal enquiry by Home Minister K. Jana Reddy. The city Police Commissioner A. K. Mohanty, Mr. Meena and representatives of the Hyderabad Union of Journalists explained their respective versions to the Home Minister.

Mr. Srinivas, photographer of Eenadu daily, lodged a complaint with the Musheerabad police against the IPS officer.

IG files counter complaint

On the other hand, Mr. Meena filed another police complaint accusing Mr. Srinivas of criminal trespass and abusing him.

He also charged the demonstrators at his Musheerabad office with criminal trespass and criminal intimidation and resorting to dharna without notice.It was against Rule 4 of 373 AP Civil Service Conduct Rules, he said.

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