Bengaluru: A city traffic head constable's video of abusing and slapping a goods auto driver for allegedly violating traffic rules went viral on social media platforms, exposing again the high-handedness of the police while dealing with the common man.
Halasoor Gate Traffic Head Constable Mahaswami hit the auto driver with his helmet first and later repeatedly slapped him for not obeying his orders. Netizens slammed the police and said it was a clear case of abuse of power.
The incident happened on the busy NR Junction near Town Hall when auto driver Suneel drove his vehicle breaking the one-way rule to be stopped by Mahaswami. When Suneel told the head constable that he would park the vehicle ahead as the road was narrow, an enraged Mahaswami got into the vehicle and began hurling abuses at him while Suneel was seen requesting the constable that he was only going to park the vehicle ahead.
A few moments later, Mahaswami took his helmet and hit Suneel. Later, he slapped the auto driver repeatedly while continuing to hurl abuses at him. It was recorded by Suneel on his mobile phone which went viral on social media platforms. The Halasoor Gate police have registered multiple cases against the auto driver.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic - East) K.V. Jagadish told Deccan Chronicle that the act cannot be condoned and action will be taken against Mahaswami.
"Yes I am aware of the video that has gone viral. We will initiate action against the head constable in question," he said.
Highhandedness condemned online
With the video shared on social media platforms, people questioned the blatant abuse of power by the police. People questioned as to who gave the authority to the police to beat up someone for violating traffic rules. "If someone breaks the rule, a case is registered against him or her. People should learn to differentiate between heinous crimes and traffic rule violations and deal with them accordingly," a man wrote on Facebook.
Recently, Sreekante Gowda, a sub-inspector attached to Subramanyanagara police station, mercilessly beat up an accused inside the police station. Gowda, who had got the legs of the accused tied, hit him on the feet with a hockey stick.
