A video clip reportedly showing a policeman verbally abusing a migrant worker employed at a roadside eatery in Erode district of Tamil Nadu has gone viral, prompting departmental action. Authorities said on Monday, 9 February 2026, that the personnel concerned has been transferred to the Armed Reserve pending enquiry.
According to police, the incident occurred on the night of 8 February 2026 in the Kanchikoil area. The policeman, who appeared visibly agitated in the footage, allegedly slapped the migrant worker, officials said.
The CCTV footage from the eatery shows the policeman questioning the guest worker in what appears to be an intimidating manner about his native place, following which a verbal altercation ensued.
He says, “Where are you from? Close the shop and leave. Don’t even think of opening tomorrow. I’ll cut off your legs. Go. Get out. Move. Close it now.” Saying so, he is seen throwing things at the workers.
He continues, “Who do you think you are talking to? Hey, where are you from? Where are you from, you dog? Do you even know where I’m from? I belong to this place. Get out! Move! Don’t even try to open this shop tomorrow. I’ll shave off my moustache. Go!”
He further said, “What did you say? What is the time. Close it now! It is 10 PM.”
A scuffle ensues and he says, “You’re raising your hand against a policeman? What’s the time? 10.20. You should close at 10 PM.”
When asked why he hit the worker, he replied, “Who are you? What will you do? I told you clearly 10PM (abuse). You don’t tell me what I should talk. How dare you question me!” (He continues to use abusive language)
Then the policeman asks details of the owner, “Whose shop is this? Tell him to come to the station at 10AM. This shop shouldn’t open tomorrow. You people come here to survive and act like this?”
The policeman is heard saying that it was past 10 PM and questioning how the shop remained open at that hour, directing that it be shut. He is also seen pushing aside vessels and cooking items using his baton.
During the exchange, the migrant worker stated that he was merely an employee and that only the shop owner would be in a position to answer operational questions.
The visibly distressed worker is heard asking the policeman why he was beaten and points toward the CCTV camera, stating that everything was being recorded. When the policeman asks whether the worker was “laying his hands” on a police officer, the latter responds by pointing to the camera and stating that the policeman was the one holding his shirt.
Police authorities confirmed that the personnel involved has been transferred to the Armed Reserve unit pending further enquiry. The home state of the migrant worker could not be immediately ascertained.
Reacting to the incident, BJP leader K Annamalai shared the video on social media and wrote: “The police are authorised to enforce the law. But, they do not have the right to inflict damage on property or to harass, abuse, or assault migrant workers merely based on the State they come from.
When such conduct is witnessed within the Tamil Nadu State Police itself, it is hardly surprising that migrant workers across the State are increasingly subjected to physical and verbal abuse under the watch of the corrupt DMK government.
It is high time we recognise and acknowledge the indispensable contribution of migrant workers to Tamil Nadu’s economy. From the construction of Metro Rail projects and National Highways to residential buildings, factories, and small production units, every pillar of our economic activity rests significantly on their labour. To deny them dignity is to undermine our own growth.
These disturbing incidents are the inevitable outcome of years of hatred being systematically sown against migrant workers for narrow political gains by the DMK.”
The police are authorised to enforce the law. But, they do not have the right to inflict damage on property or to harass, abuse, or assault migrant workers merely based on the State they come from.
When such conduct is witnessed within the Tamil Nadu State Police itself, it is… pic.twitter.com/I3Tf3nmRLa
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) February 9, 2026
Source: Rediff
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