In line of duty, traffic police face motorists’ fury

In July alone seven cases of assault and manhandling of public servants by the civilians have been reported in various police stations across the city. In most of the cases, the cops on night patrol were allegedly manhandled and assaulted by motorists, raising concern about their safety.

Additional commissioner of police (Traffic) M.A. Saleem told Deccan Chronicle, “There has been a rise in cases of cops getting assaulted as the police have stepped up enforcement of traffic rules by conducting regular checks and nabbing violators. In a bid to evade action, they indulge in verbal abuse, physical attacks on policemen and snatch away of walkie-talkie.”

In the latest such incident on Sunday morning, high drama prevailed near Hebbal flyover after a traffic police constable attached to Hebbal traffic police was allegedly assaulted by a BMTC bus conductor over a parking row. The duo got into a fist fight and later some BMTC employees staged a protest in front of the Hebbal traffic police station.

The incident took place around 8 am when the constable, Pradip, noticed a BMTC bus parked in a haphazard manner near Hebbal flyover. He brought this to the notice of the bus conductor, Narayana Swamy, and told him to tell the driver to park the vehicle properly. Swamy got upset and warned Pradip to talk in a decent manner. This led to a heated argument and they even exchanged blows. The passersby and other BMTC staffers intervened and stopped the fight. Traffic movement at the busy Hebbal junction was affected for 45 minutes.

The police were informed about the and they rushed to the spot. They took both of them to the police station. Both parties filed complaint against each other in Amruthalli police station.

DCP traffic (West) S. Girish told this newspaper, “In most cases, the cops who are on night duty are being assaulted and obstructed while performing their duty. Earlier too such incidents used to take place, but now all the officers have been directed not to break the protocol and follow a clear cut policy. If on duty, they are being manhandled, the cop on duty will report the matter to the law and order police station and will book a FIR against the person. The police have been following this policy from the last one-and-a-half years.”

July 25: A constable attached to J.P. Nagar police station was assaulted by a drunken techie.

July 14: Two traffic police personnel, including a woman sub-inspector, were assaulted in separate incidents in Cottonpet and Rajajinagar traffic police station limits.

July 12: Three traffic policemen were assaulted by two journalists while they were carrying out checks against drunken driving.

July 8: Two policemen attached to Yeshwanthpur traffic police station were allegedly assaulted, robbed and forcibly taken to bus depot by a BMTC bus conductor and driver.

July 3: A constable attached to Hanumanth Nagar police station was allegedly assaulted by a Congress party worker.

June 30: A traffic police sub inspector, attached to Kalasipalya traffic police station, was assaulted while on night duty by three pedestrians.