Bengaluru: Drunk cabbie assaults traffic policeman, flees after accident

Bengaluru: The Bharathinagar police have launched a manhunt for a cab driver, who allegedly knocked down a motorist, later beat up a traffic policeman and escaped in his car early Friday.

The accused has been identified as Pinto Babu, attached to a private cab service company and a resident of Vivek Nagar. Around 1 am, an inebriated Pinto drove his car in a rash manner and knocked down a biker near Halasuru Lake.

The passersby managed to stop Pinto and alerted the control room. Assistant sub-inspector Jayaramaiah, attached to Shivajinagar traffic police station, rushed to the spot, along with head constable Jayaram. They shifted the injured to Bowring Hospital, while Jayaramaiah told Pinto to accompany him to the police station.

While Pinto was being taken to the station in his car, he allegedly overpowered Jayaramaiah, punched him on the face, pushed him out of the car and sped away. Jayaramiaiah alerted the control room and a Hoysala vehicle tried to chase Pinto, but he managed to escape.

Jayaramaiah later reported the matter to the jurisdictional Bharathinagar police and provided the registration number of the vehicle. Based on the complaint, the Bharathinagar police seized the car, but Pinto escaped again. A manhunt has been launched to nab him.