Bengaluru: With power comes responsibility. But in Bengaluru, power wielders believe that it is well within their rights to abuse it. In another instance of savagery by city cops, a traffic constable thrashed a commuter, abused him, tore his clothes and threatened him with dire consequences.
When a crowd gathered in support of the victim, the constable called for backup from Sadashivnagar police station (Law & Order) and officers, who arrived, responded to the crowd’s demand for justice with a mild lathicharge.
Thirty-five-year-old civil contractor, Manjunath Reddy, was on his way to work when his car brushed against a police jeep coming from the opposite direction near Starbucks Café in Sadashivanagar around 11 am on November 7.
The police jeep driver, identified as Veerabhadraiah from his name badge, got down from the jeep, dragged Manjunath out of his car and began to assault him.
“I was sitting in my car when the traffic cop jumped out of the jeep and grabbed my collar. He started assaulting me and abusing me.
He took away my driving licence, vehicle registration certificate and also my personal cheque books. I apologised to the constable, but he continued to thrash me, and even tore my shirt.
When I warned him that I would complain to his higher-ups, he told me that he did not care,” Manjunath told Deccan Chronicle.
On noticing the commotion, a crowd gathered at the spot and tried to reason with the constable, but he started abusing and attacking the public too.
The drama went on for another 20 minutes. When the crowd started growing, an alarmed constable called for backup and four policemen from Sadashivnagar police station arrived at the spot.
When the furious mob demanded justice and refused to disperse, the policemen allegedly wielded their lathis, eyewitnesses said.
“Is demanding justice a crime? The policemen caned us even when we were not resorting to violence,” said Manjith, a photographer and an eyewitness.
Mr Manjith said that the constable not only misbehaved with the victim but also the public. “The backup team chased the people away and in the melee, the guilty constable slinked away,” he said.
When Deccan Chronicle contacted the Sadashivnagar police station, the inspector denied that any such incident occurred on November 7. On the contrary, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), East Division, M.N. Babu Rajendra Prasad said, “The incident did occur on November 7, but was settled by both parties at the Sadashivnagar police station the same day.
The police jeep that was involved in the accident belongs to Hebbal woman traffic inspector, Satyavati. The traffic constable was driving to the petrol bunk when the incident occurred.”
Mr Manjunath said that no compromise was struck between him and the constable. “I wanted to file an FIR, but the police refused to register it. I have only given a formal complaint, and it is lying at the police station.”
The victim, Manjunath Reddy (circled)
