The incident took place around 2:10 pm. Anjan Reddy, a Meru cab driver, was driving past Esteem Mall near Kempapura Cross on Bellary Main Road. Reddy, who was on his way to Yelahanka to pick up a passenger, crossed the zebra crossing even as the orange light came on.
Raju, a traffic constable attached to Hebbal traffic police, who was manning the traffic at the point, ordered the driver to stop and park the vehicle by the roadside. Since the cab driver was on the extreme right, he was forced to move a distance before complying with the policeman’s order. Raju, suspecting that the driver was trying to get away, shouted at him.
When Reddy tried to explain that he could not stop in the middle of the road, the policeman raised his hand to hit him. Reddy managed to catch hold of Raju’s hand and asked him to behave with restraint. In the melee, the cop, who was holding a walkie, hit the driver with it, causing a bleeding injury over his right eyebrow.
On seeing the driver bleeding, the crowd and a few other cab drivers who had gathered in number, got together and pounced on the cop. Sensing what was in store for him, Raju hopped into an autorickshaw and escaped, leaving the traffic to go haywire.
Policemen from the neighbouring police stations rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.