Picked up by cops for standing on the pavement

I get a call at around 11 pm from my roomate who is on his way home. He says he has been apprehended by some cops and is being taken to the police station.

His crime? He was standing on the pavement to call me from his mobile. They asked for identification, he showed it to them. But still, all this was deemed serious enough to take him to the police station. At the police station (It was at least 8 km away from where they picked him up. Talk about jurisdiction!), they accused him of trying to 'hide' his identity despite the fact that he had already showed them his identification. They ridiculed him for being a 'North Indian' who had no business to be in Bangalore. They also said that if his friend (me) did not speak Kannada, what would he achieve by coming to the police station? They made out a 'petty offence' against him and told him to sign a statement in Kannada (he cannot read Kannada). Fortunately, he had enough of his wits about him at that moment to flatly refuse. They then threatened him that they would make him stay there all night if he did not sign the statement. All this while they did not disclose under which section of which Act had the 'petty offence' been made out. They also made him a pay a 'fine' of Rs. 200. What the fine was for, they did not disclose.

When I reached the police station, the poor guy was literally shivering and the cops were obviously pleased at his visible discomfort. They told me that your friend is very afraid. They then told me that the area where he was standing is notorious for chain snatching and such offences. Had he attempted any such offence? No. But what if someone else would have attempted to snatch something from him, they said? Maybe that gives them a reason to take him to the police station. When I asked them about the Act under they had made out the charge, they said it was a 'minor' offence under the Karnataka Police Act. Finally we were allowed to go after a lecture on 'not to stand on the pavement'.

My faith in my country stands shaken. This way, we might as well start having separate visas for each state. How much more divisive are we going to get? I can never forget the sight of my roommate coming out of the police station trembling. This way, in an hour or so, he might have cracked and signed anything they would have asked him to, just to get away from the place. Disgusting. This is what you get for being law-abiding. If the law is not as ass, such law-enforcers certainly are.