Auto Driver Threatens Hyderabad Traffic Police With Snake After Vehicle Seizure
Incident occurred during drunk-and-drive checks at Chandrayangutta crossroads in Old City
Hyderabad: Panic gripped commuters and police personnel at the busy Chandrayangutta crossroads in the early hours of Sunday when an intoxicated auto-rickshaw driver allegedly threatened traffic cops with a live snake.
The driver, identified as Md Irfan, brandished the reptile to demand the release of his seized vehicle. The drama unfolded around 12:30 am during a routine drunk-driving check.
Police said Irfan’s blood alcohol content (BAC) registered a staggering 150 mg/100 ml on the breathalyser. When officers moved to detain his auto-rickshaw, he allegedly pulled out a large snake, wound it around his wrist, and charged at them while hurling abuses.
“The driver used the snake to terrorise our officers, shouting at them to hand over his vehicle. He managed to dodge the personnel and fled the scene with the reptile,” a traffic official said.
Chandrayangutta law and order police have registered a case based on the complaint. “Apart from drunk driving, we have booked him for threatening an officer on duty. The Forest Department has been alerted about the illegal possession of the snake, and his antecedents are being verified. The case is under investigation,” said R. Gopi, SHO.
The incident, captured on camera by onlookers, has gone viral on social media. Police have collected the footage as evidence and formed a special team to trace the absconding driver.
