Journalists beat up traffic cops, held

Bengaluru: Showing off their muscle power proved costly for two journalists, including a woman, who work for a Chennai-based leading news daily, after the duo in an inebriated state allegedly manhandled and assaulted three traffic policemen attached to Shivajinagar traffic police station, who were on duty, in the early hours of Sunday.

The accused has been identified as Chanakya Shankar Kashyap, who hails from Assam and is a resident of Gottigere on Bannerghatta Road. He and the woman have been booked under Sections 332 and 504 of the IPC by the Commercial Street police.

Sub-Inspector Mallikarjun Beeta (54), along with traffic police constable Basavaraja Kattimani and another constable, was carrying out a special drive against drunk driving on Lady Curzon Road in the Commercial Street police limits when the alleged assault took place.

The policemen were at the end of their drive when they stopped a Hyundai Verna that was heading from Lady Curzon Road to Cubbon Road around 1.30 am. Chanakya, who was behind the wheel, was subjected to the breathalyzer test and was found drunk beyond the permissible limit. The police served him a notice.

The situation turned ugly when Chanakya refused to hand over the car keys to the police. An altercation ensued and Chanakya punched SI Beeta on his nose. The SI fell on the ground and dislocated his shoulder.

Mr Kattimani, who tried to intervene, was also manhandled and pushed by the two journalists. Noticing commotion, the other traffic police constable alerted the Commercial Street police station who then arrested the duo.

A case under Sections 332 and 504 of the IPC have been registered at the Commercial Street police station.