Traffic police tow away two-wheelers in the Majestic area.
Credit: DH FILE PHOTO
Bengaluru: After Home Minister G Parameshwara announced on Tuesday that towing of wrongfully parked vehicles would be reintroduced in the city to curb traffic congestion, residents raised concerns about mistreatment by traffic police officials when towing was in force.
While shop owners on Brigade Road, Commercial Street, and Malleswaram have welcomed the move, many city residents remain wary as they recall horror stories of damaged vehicles and harassment before towing was banned in 2022.
In one instance, in 2021, a Nagarbhavi resident’s four-wheeler was towed from Indiranagar. But it was returned with scratches on the right door and a broken side-view mirror. “When I asked the police officials about this, they insisted the damage existed before towing. That was untrue, but the police refused to listen,” shared Priya L.
Several others also complained about punctured tyres. “They would drag vehicles across the road. Almost every vehicle would be returned with a punctured tyre,” said Arman Sharief, a resident of RT Nagar.
Ranjini (name changed) recalls an unpleasant experience near Commercial Street five years ago. “My bike was towed from Infantry Road, and I was told I would find it on Dickenson Road. When I got there, I was met by an extremely rude police official. Despite me being an adult, he insisted that I bring my parents or husband to the station to get my bike back. He then started asking for a bribe. It was only when people around noticed his behaviour and questioned him that he backed off,” she recounted to DH.