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Traffic cops bears the brunt of irate motorists

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In two separate instances, a sub-inspector and a constable were assaulted for trying to do their jobs. In the first case, a sub-inspector attached to Kandivali traffic chowky was allegedly manhandled by a tempo driver two days ago on Link Road in Kandivali after he asked the driver to move his vehicle which was causing congestion on the road. When the driver, Samad Siddiqui, refused to cooperate, he was asked to get into the police van. Siddiqui held the officer by his collar and allegedly assaulted him.

In the other case, a biker, Gaurav Makwana, allegedly manhandled a traffic police during a nakabandi in Kandivali (E) when he was stopped for riding without a helmet. When the constable asked him to show his license, Makwana started threatening the constable, spoke of his political inclinations and manhandled him. He was immediately arrested.

These are not isolated cases where traffic personnels were assaulted by indisciplined motorists. As per the traffic police department, several officials on the field face the wrath and abuse of motorists when they are caught for traffic violations.

This year, over 40 cases have been registered so far by the traffic police for voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty. Last year, the number was 54 between January and December. Joint commissioner of police, traffic, B K Upadhyay, said, "The traffic officials work under stressful environment. The unruly motorists who fail to abide by the rules do not want to be confronted. There is a tendency among such motorists to abuse and assault the officers. Such cases are on the rise."

In most cases, the motorists try to flaunt their wealth, political inclinations, etc when they are caught and tend to threaten the cops when they are asked to pay the fine, provide driving license or other documents. The department has started creating awareness among motorists on behaviour and discipline. A senior traffic official said, "We've had instances were constables were brutally beaten up during nakabandis when motorists are caught for rash driving, drunken driving, driving without helmet or for riding triples, etc. While some flee when they are caught, others like to flaunt their power and influence. Although we have trained our officers to deal with such motorists professionally, sometimes the situation goes out of hand. "

Such offenders are caught and arrested under relevant sections of the Indian Penal code for causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty or threat of injury to public servant, etc.

Another officer said, "Rage on the roads is on a rise. Driving on Mumbai roads is chaotic and pressurizing. Therefore, when motorists are caught breaking the law, this pressure transforms into anger and they tend to get furious with the traffic cops. Sometimes it happens vice-versa where traffic officials tend to lose their cool with offenders. What we need is a more friendly approach between the motorists and the cops and each party should be responsible for his/her actions."

Cases where traffic cops were assaulted, abused or manhandled by motorists in the city:

2013 (Jan to Dec) - 54

2014 (till August) - 40

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