Bengaluru: A 40-year-old cab driver, who had on Friday night allegedly assaulted a traffic cop after getting involved in a road rage incident with another motorist, was found drowned in a storm water drain near Halasooru on Monday. The cabbie had jumped into the drain in a bid to escape the cops who were chasing him. The deceased, Pinto Raj, is a resident of Neelasandra and living with his wife and a daughter.
According to the police, Pinto’s car had brushed a motorcycle and the two were engaged in heated argument on Friday night. Shivaji Nagar traffic ASI Jayaramaiah and a head constable Jayaram rushed to the spot and detained Pinto and were demanding that he come to the police station as he was drunk and resisting the police.
Sensing trouble, Pinto allegedly assaulted Jayaramaiah and fled, abandoning his car. Traffic cops called for backup and a Hoysala with a team of officers gave chase. After running for around one-and-half-kilometre, Pinto jumped into a storm water drain. Since the area was dark and it was drizzling, the men in khaki aborted their pursuit deciding to continue the next day. However Pinto, who was heavily drunk, got stuck in the silt and drowned.
The incident came to light on Monday when Halasooru police were informed about a body floating in the drain. Cops ascertained his identity using his ATM card.
DCP (East), Satheesh Kumar termed the incident unfortunate and said police could have called fire and emergency service for help. Pinto’s family hold police responsible for his death.
