Cab drivers assault police, 3 held, 1 flees

The city police are on the lookout for a 25-year-old Ola cab driver who along with his three colleagues assaulted policemen over a drunken brawl and escaped with the ignition key of the patrol vehicle in Uttarahalli on Saturday.

Siddhachari R, an injured head constable and his colleague Mohan Kumar, a constable, both attached to Rajarajeshwari Nagar police station, managed to chase and nab three suspects with the help of a few passers-by.

In his complaint, Siddachari said the incident happened on Saturday evening when the Hoysala patrol vehicle was on duty.

They found the suspects sitting on the bonnet of the parked vehicles on a roadside and creating a nuisance. They were drunk and were misbehaving with the passers-by. When Siddachari questioned them, they manhandled him.

Sensing trouble, Mohan Kumar, also the driver of the patrol vehicle, alerted the control room for reinforcement. One of the suspects, Punith, attacked Mohan Kumar and snatched the ignition keys in a bid to stop him from alerting the control room.

They then tried to flee when Siddachari and Mohan Kumar raised an alarm and started chasing them.

Meanwhile, a few passers-by also helped the police to nab Bharath, Sunil and Praveen. Beat constables Ashok and Amar had reached the spot and secured the three, but Punith is yet to be arrested.

The accused have been booked under Section 341 — wrongful restraint and 353 — assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging of his duty.