JOIN USTwo sub-inspectors attached to the Kamakshipalya traffic police station were assaulted by an RTO staffer and his brother when the officers were cracking down on drink-driving near Malagala underpass close to Sumanahalli flyover on Saturday night.
Manju and Shivanand, both traffic sub-inspectors, were checking drink-driving. Puttaramu, a traffic constable, stopped a bike rider, Girish, and asked him to take the breathalyser test. The test showed Girish to be drunk.
The constable asked him to park the bike aside and show the necessary documents. But Girish, who works part-time for Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom), started arguing with him.
Sub-inspector Manju intervened and asked Girish to show the bike’s documents and his driving licence. But Girish called up his brother-in-law Venkatachala, who works at the Regional Transport Office (RTO), Rajajinagar.
Venkatachala arrived soon and began pulling a few strings. But the police officers refused to let them go. The duo then started abusing Manju, prompting Shivanand to intervene. But the duo slapped him and broke his spectacles.
They also snatched his BlackBerry and threw it on the road. When another constable tried to intervene, the duo snatched his walkie-talkie too and threw it on the road. Thereafter, they fled the spot.
The sub-inspectors then went to the Kamakshipalya police station (law and order) and made a complaint. Police quickly traced the duo to their home and arrested them on the charge of obstructing policemen from discharging their duties. They were sent for medical examination while Shivananda was given first aid. Manju claimed that the two men behaved badly.
“Their behaviour was horrific. They abused and degraded us in public. We had only asked Girish to produce the original documents and the driving licence. But they started assaulting us.” According to Manju, the two men are aged above 40 and both were drunk and not in a position to control themselves.