Kolkata: Biker sees red, hits constable in jam zone

KOLKATA: A Shyambazar traffic guard constable alleged that he was assaulted by a biker, whom he told to stop for flouting a red signal at the RG Kar Road-MN Ganguly Road crossing. The constable, identified as Subhas Sarkar (33), had to be taken to R G Kar Hospital, where he was treated and later, discharged.

The incident took place around 3.30pm last Tuesday.

The accused, Kaushik Bagchi (28), a resident of Nischinda in Howrah 's Bally, was subsequently arrested by the cops at the Ultadanga police station and booked him under sections 332 and 353 of IPC for stopping a public servant from carrying out his duty.

Witnesses and even Bagchi, however, claimed that the cop was rude. Stopping Baghchi, when Sarkar had questioned him why he had broken the rule, the biker apparently asked him why the traffic on BT Road was being held up for several minutes, even though restrictions had been imposed on Tallah Bridge. But Sarkar apparently was rude and an argument ensued, which reportedly led Bagchi to hit him. According to a police sources at the traffic guard, the accused had told them that he had had several altercations with cops even on previous occasions.

"The repeated run-ins had infuriated him and he wanted his revenge," claimed a source.

Altercations between rule-breakers and traffic personnel have been on the rise in the city and all traffic cops have been asked to switch on their body cameras the moment someone got involved in an argument with them.

"The body camera will help maintain transparency in such situations. It will boost the confidence of the public as well as traffic sergeants. It's a win-win situation for both sides. It will provide clear evidence," said an IPS officer.