Army man loses temper, slaps handicapped in Pune

An army personnel slapped a handicapped student rider following an argument at a traffic signal near Taj Blue Diamond Hotel on Koregaon Park Road on Monday afternoon. The victim was on a
two-wheeler meant for the disabled.

Rohit Garud (32), alleged that the soldier, driving an army truck ferrying schoolchildren, was forcing him to jump the traffic signal. The incident took place at 2.45 pm. The DNA team happened to be at the spot when the incident took place.

Rohit told DNA he was heading towards Kharadi for some work. “I reached the Koregaon Park traffic signal and waited as it was red. The army vehicle going towards Yerawada approached from the rear and honked. There was no space on the road for me to move my vehicle out of his way. Yet, he honked thrice, so I lost my patience and abused him,” he said.

“He stepped out from the truck and said in Marathi that he understood the language and slapped me four times,” Rohit recalled.

“I was shocked at the soldier’s behaviour. How could I have moved or jumped the signal for the army vehicle to pass? This is not the way for an army man to behave with common people. I am upset with his behaviour,” he said.

Rohit stays in Wadgaon Sheri and has completed his BA in psychology from Pune.