Bengaluru: Fine fury! Anger against traffic cops spills over

Bengaluru: A goods carrier driver videographs a traffic constable slapping him and the post goes viral on social media . Irked over the incident, a cab driver dares traffic cops to catch him, if they can, for not having documents and puts out a video. Next comes reports of an earlier incident of a youth taking revenge by stealing the jerkin, tab and face mask of a traffic constable in the city after his bike is towed away.

In all three cases, the commuters were driven to extreme levels of frustration towards traffic police. While Bengalureans have long been complaining of high-handedness and intimidation by traffic cops, the recently enhanced traffic fines seem to have pushed them to the edge.

One of the major grouses they have against traffic police is their inability to regulate traffic, though that’s their primary duty. Most feel managing traffic is low on their priority and they are instead busy collecting fines from motorists. In fact, many traffic cops themselves are often spotted breaking rules with impunity and commuters regularly reporting such cops on social media.

Psychiatrists say severe traffic congestion coupled and with a lack of basic infrastructure are the underlying reasons for the growing anger and the same only aggravated after hefty fines came in.

“There is already a lot of road rage among commuters due to terrible roads and traffic conditions. When the fines were hiked, it angered a lot of people further, as many in the country still struggle to meet their daily expenses. Owning a vehicle is still considered a luxury by many,” said Dr Vijay Kumar, a city-based psychiatrist.

Traffic police officials, however, expressed surprise over the recent incidents. “It’s ridiculous that people are behaving like this against traffic cops, who are only executing government orders,” said KV Jagadeesh, deputy commissioner of police (DCP) traffic east.

“We are all trained personnel who undergo sensitisation programmes every year, which also cover dealing with commuters,” he added.

RECENT FACE-OFFS

* Sunil Kumar, driver of a mini-goods truck, who videographed a Halasuru Gate traffic cop slapping him on September 19, hasn’t returned to his Puttenahalli home even since the video went viral, say police. His mother has filed a complaint stating three unidentified men threatened her and others in the family on September 21 night. “According to his mother, Sunil is not going to work and is living with a friend near JP Nagar VI Block. Police in plainclothes will meet Sunil and convince him to return home,” said a senior police official.

* A video showing C Raghu, 27, a cab driver from Machabayanahalli in Hunsur taluk, Mysuru district daring police to penalise him as his vehicle lacked documents went viral. “I don’t have any documents or licence. If you have guts, catch and arrest me when I come to Bengaluru to drop a passenger to Kempegowda International Airport on the second of next month,” Raghu is seen telling cops. Additional commissioner of police (traffic) BR Ravikanthe Gowda said they arrested Raghu on Monday. “It was a prank. Raghu confessed he had purchased the used car four years ago. However, the vehicle had developed a snag and was parked in the garage. Raghu made the video thinking no one would catch him as the car wasn’t in a usable condition,” said Gowda. The vehicle documents revealed Raghu had been booked for various violations, including using mobile phone while driving, violating one-way rule and signal jumping. He has to pay a fine of Rs 1,200.

* Ashoknagar police are looking for a youth who stole official properties of a traffic constable. Ashok Gajare was angry after traffic police towed away his motorcycle from Nanjappa Circle in Ashoknagar on September 18. He allegedly stole stuff belonging to constable Mustafa Mulla. “Ashoknagar traffic cops had towed away the vehicle and Mustafa is attached to the High Grounds traffic police. After his vehicle was towed away in the afternoon, Gajare was loitering near Ashoknagar traffic police station. He noticed Mustafa park his bike and walk into the police quarters. Gajare stole the tab, rain coat and mask placed inside the box of the motor bike and escaped,” said police.