A curious bystander says he was dragged in a ‘headlock’ along Jalan Tun Perak during the April 28 rally by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 3.0).

Baharudin Hashim, 53, told the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) that he was “just sitting” outside Wisma Kraftangan along Jalan Tun Perak about 6pm when he was nabbed by “two to three” police personnel.

“I was dragged by one of the policemen and all along the way I was hit on the head, punched and kicked by other police officers,” said the second witness during the first day of the public inquiry into violation of human rights during the rally.

Baharudin said he was out shopping at the Sogo Department Store on the morning of April 28. Around 2pm he heard “some commotion” inside the mall, which triggered his “curiosity”.

“I wanted to know what was happening outside, so I walked out of the building and saw a huge crowd - singing, chanting and marching towards Dataran Merdeka.

However, he was released later upon orders from a superior officer at Dataran Merdeka.

Suhakam vice-chairperson Khaw Lake Tee, who chaired the inquiry panel, asked Baharudin if the situation had made him “anxious”, but the latter responded that the atmosphere was “lively” and that he felt safe.

He walked with the crowd along Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and diverted off to Masjid Jamek to perform prayers.

It was while he was praying that the tear gas were fired and water cannon launched at the participants.

“I saw people scrambling for shelter. I left the mosque to leave the place as well. We walked toward the LRT station but it was closed.

“We walked back to Jalan Tun Perak, where I saw the police beating up participants and warning them to not take photos.

“Even the reporters and cameramen were told to lay down their equipment. Some were confiscated,” he said.

'No warning bells heard'

Earlier today, R Kunabala, who was first to take the stand, testified that he did not hear the warning bells from the riot squad before tear gas was fired at Dataran Merdeka.

Kunabala was near the scene where the barricades were breached and said that the police did not act until much later.

NONE The public inquiry is probing into human rights violation during the clashes that occurred after police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse nearly 100,000 demonstrators, following a breach of the barricade in front of Dataran Merdeka.

Police reasoned that the use of force was necessary to prevent “a riot” following the breach of a court order barring Bersih 3.0 and the public from entering the historic square through the April 28 weekend.

More than a dozen shots of tear gas canisters were launched at the crowd, forcing them to retreat north of Jalan Raja Laut while some ran towards Jalan Tun Perak as police and the riot squads moved in.

The panel is headed by Suhakam vice-chairperson Khaw Lake Tee, assisted by commissioners Detta Samen and Mahmood Zuhdi A Majid, who had also sat through the Bersih 2.0 inquiry.

ASP S Shanmugam held a watching brief for the police force, the Bar Council was represented by Roger Chan and the Bersih committee was represented by Daniel Albert. The inquiry resumes on July 11.

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