Bengaluru: “If I have to send a condolence message to your family who should I send it to? Looking at the way you are riding, I think I need your family member’s number,” is one of many jocular, yet serious, taunts you will hear from namma ‘Mardaani cop’ Manju Mehra if you are driving rashly through Graphite signal in Marathahalli in Southeast division, where she stands guard against traffic offenders.
The 46-year-old iron lady Manju Mehra is tough only because she cares for the safety of commuters and smooth flow of traffic. Whether it is blazing sun or pouring rain, Ms Mehra is at the junction, making sure that the commuters follow rules with a smile.
For her, the last two years at the same signal have been well spent, as she proudly says that she has saved 67 lives.
On June 4, though it was her off day and she was suffering from fever, Ms Mehra couldn’t help but intervene to help clear a traffic jam and resolve a road rage incident. Manju and her nine-year-old daughter had come out to buy medicines for her fever when she jumped in to rescue a car driver, who was being harassed.
The victim, Balaji Zayn, took to the Bengaluru traffic police official Facebook page and thanked her for prompt action. In his post, Mr Zayn said, “After a hectic day at work, I was returning home along with my friend on Whitefield Main Road from Marathahalli through Hope Farm when my car accidentally rear-ended a petrol tanker as its driver applied brakes suddenly. The traffic came to a screeching halt and a commotion started immediately. That was when the traffic warden, a very active personality and strong by nature, took over the entire situation and cleared the traffic.”
The post read, “After clearing the traffic, she asked me to park my vehicle on the roadside, took pictures of the car as the bonnet and fender was damaged. She noticed I had a woman companion and made sure that the work was done fast. She consoled me, saying that either she would help me get compensation or give me an acknowledgement so that I can claim insurance. After the formalities were done at the police station, I learnt that she had a fever of over 100 degrees and was off duty. She had come to buy medicines along with her child. Though she could have avoided resolving the scuffle as it would have been taken care of by other policemen, she voluntarily came in and handled the situation like a pro.”
Ms Mehra told Deccan Chronicle, “I love to be on the road. I am addicted to the fact that commuters who are passing by this junction reach home safe.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic (East) C.K. Baba said, “She is a committed worker and has been with BTP for quite sometime now. I am proud of my policemen who are going out of their way to help citizens. Manju Mehra is a committed and a dedicated traffic warden. I urge fellow Bengalurueans to give due respect to our policemen.”
