Drunk cop rear-ends car, beats up senior citizens

Police top brass terms his conduct 'shameful', suspends him

 When a host of traffic policemen took part in a road safety event called ‘Flashing stars on wheels’ to inculcate discipline and care among road users on Sunday, an assistant sub-inspector rode a bullet bike under the influence of alcohol and assaulted two senior citizens.

Ishwarappa, 54, an ASI attached to the Chamarajpet traffic police station, was suspended for drink-driving and assaulting two senior citizens and misbehaving with the public. “A preliminary investigation revealed he was drunk and behaved in a highly irresponsible manner. He was suspended immediately,” DCP (Traffic-West) S Girish told Deccan Herald.

Around 6 pm, Ishwarappa consumed liquor and rode home on the white bullet bike (KA 03 G 312) assigned to him for official purpose. He was supposed to be on duty till pm. As he reached near Malleswaram 7th Cross, he rear-ended the car of two senior citizens, Shanthilal, 70, a businessman from Malles­waram, and his relative Badrinath, 60, the police said.

When Shanthilal and Badrinath demanded an explanation, Ishwarappa got angry and asked them how dare they questioned a policeman.

Window smashed

Then he picked something and smashed it into the car’s left side window. A broken piece of the window struck Badrinath on the left hand, injuring him.

When an angry Shanthilal objected to the policeman’s behaviour, the latter slapped him in the face and gave threats, an eyewitness said. Soon, a large crowd gathered at the spot and stood up for the senior citizens. But Ishwarappa remained unfazed and asked them to mind their own business.

Some of people then realised that he was drunk, pinned him and beat him up. Others joined them, kicking Ishwarappa. They later took him to the police station. A test later found 180 mg of alcohol in the ASI’s blood, far more than the permissible limit of 30 mg.
The DCP termed the incident unfortunate:

“It is a shameful act on the part of the ASI. People depend on the police for protection. He assaulted two seniors while drunk. His act is totally against the rules of the service.”

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic and Security) B Dayananda told Deccan Herald: “The DCP (Traffic-West) has been asked to conduct an inquiry and submit a report at the earliest. We will take strict action against Ishwarappa if he is found to have violated the norms and indulged in misconduct.”