Villupuram: Crime accused watching movies, that too along with police escort. No, this is not from a typical Kollywood potboiler. But a somewhat regular occurrence in Villupuram.

In what may be considered strange and unbelievable, policemen taking handcuffed petty theft accused and suspects to night shows has become rather common in the town in the recent past. Within the span of a week, three accused persons, who were detained for inquiry, accompanied policemen for night shows and even during night patrol, according to reliable sources. However, a senior police officer clarified that they had not permitted junior officers to take the accused to movies during nights, especially in handcuffs and in government vehicles, and assured that action would be initiated against the personnel concerned if the charges are proved.

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According to Jagan (name changed), a local who visited a theatre here to watch the latest movie 36 Vayathinile along with his family on Saturday night, he spotted three policemen in plainclothes and an inspector in uniform (all attached to the Villupuram Town police station) along with a handcuffed youth searching for seats in the dark with the help of a theatre employee.

As the police personnel entered the cinema hall half-an-hour after the film had begun, they found most of the rows occupied and could obtain seats only near the screen. When the audience spotted the manacled youth and the police personnel, there was a flutter followed by utter silence in the theatre. Following their entry, the audience, apparently out of fear, didn’t applaud even the mushy scenes in the movie.

It was also allegedly apparent from the policemen’s attitude that they along with the accused were watching the show for free. When the film ended, the theatre management said that they usually don’t buy tickets and even demand free snacks, misusing their ‘power’, claimed Jagan.

A shop owner told sources that some police officers who are attached to stations in the vicinity of Villupuram town apparently take the accused persons to night show movies and later during their night patrol. By early morning, they take the accused individuals to the respective police station and initiate investigation, the shop owner added.

Whether the police officers are instructed by higher officials or they do it on their own, at least if they bring the accused to theatres after removing the handcuffs, it would not create a ‘scare’ among the public, said residents and movie-goers.