Bengaluru: There seems to be no let up in acts of high handedness by the city traffic police officials. In yet another incident, a 19-year-old B. Com student has accused a traffic police Sub-Inspector for allegedly assaulting him, beating him inside the station and booking him for seven offences. His only mistake was he questioned the Sub-Inspector on duty for snatching away his bike keys, driving licence, and other things while he was on his way home near Yeshwanthpur flyover.
The ordeal didn't end here for him. In his complaint, Rakshith alleged that after the cops made the student forcibly sign a letter.
They also did not give him receipt for the challans slapped on him and pocketed '900. When he tried to get the receipt, they allegedly threatened his parents to send him to Parappana Agrahara central jail. The incident came to light after the harassed victim took to Bengaluru traffic police official page and narrated the horror.
Rakhsith Raj, a student of Sheshadripuram College of Commerce and Management told Deccan Chronicle, “It was around 4 pm when I was heading home.
Upon reaching Yeshwanthpur Circle I got down from my bike and was pushing it in the wrong direction of a one-way street. Anjanappa, a traffic police Sub-Inspector, stopped me and asked for my documents. As demanded, I produced all my documents which were up to date. The cop asked me to pay for violating one-way rule. I told him ‘Sir, I wasn’t riding, I was pushing my bike as it had stopped’.”
“The cop on duty asked me to pay the fine as it was an offence to which I replied, ‘Sir? I am not carrying money, I will pay later. You can register the violation on my bike’. But he came charging at me and began taking my picture. When I resisted he snatched away my mobile phone, bike keys, DL and bike RC. He then took me to Yehswanthpur traffic police station and hit me twice. In retaliation, I hit him back following which he fell down,” added Rakshith.
Enraged over this, few more cops gathered and allegedly began abusing Rakshith. “They asked me to sit at the corner while one of them sat with paper and raised seven violations on me - violating one-way rule, rash driving, driving without helmet, not following traffic signs, try to escape from spot, signal jump and behaving rudely with a public servant on duty. They gave those as notice and asked me to sign to which I opposed.”
“They made me sit in the station for more than two hours. Meanwhile, my parents were informed about the same following which they came to the station. When they asked why I was brought here, the cops told them that I have hit a policeman on duty. And if Anjanappa files a case, I will go to Parappana Agrahara jail. After repeated pleas of my parents, the cops decided to let go off me, but made me sign a letter which stated that I made all the violations and I accept that it was my mistake, before collecting Rs 900 as fine. When I asked for a receipt, they verbally abused me,” lamented Rakshith.
When DC contacted Yeshwanthpur traffic police, a senior police officer said, “I am unaware about any such incident. However, one needs to understand that such incidents happen when both the parties involve in a heated arguments following which the situation goes out of hands. Motorists most of the time have scant regards for rules. However, in this case I don't know what has happened. I will look into the matter and suitable action will be taken.”
