7 arrested for assaulting traffic sergeant in S Kolkata

Kolkata: Seven persons were arrested on charges of manhandling an on-duty traffic sergeant when he stopped a youth for riding motorbike recklessly without a helmet. The incident took place at Panditya Road in South Kolkata late night on Saturday.

A police officer said that the traffic sergeant Golak Sarkar, who was posted at South East Traffic Guard, was on duty near Ballygunge Phari on Saturday night. He found a youth riding a motorbike at high speed. Moreover, he was not even wearing a helmet. The youth, Rishu Chowdhury, stopped when the traffic sergeant signalled him to slow down his two-wheeler. An argument broke out when the sergeant asked him to show him the necessary documents including the driving license.

The situation turned worse when the traffic sergeant did not allow the youth to flee with his two-wheeler as the latter had flouted traffic norms.

Instead of accepting that he had committed a mistake, the youth continued arguing and contacted his friends from a nearby locality over the phone. Around ten youth went to Panditya Road and started heckling the traffic sergeant. The traffic sergeant was allegedly pushed by the youth and he received injuries. Additional policemen went to the spot and rescued the traffic sergeant. They took him to the hospital where he was admitted with chest pain.

A complaint was lodged with Gariahat Police Station in this connection. Police initiated a probe and went through CCTV footage in the area. It helped the police easily identify the youth who were involved in the incident. Police conducted raids at different areas in the locality and arrested seven persons in this connection.

A similar incident had taken place in Park Street on Friday night when traffic sergeants had been heckled by some reckless bikers. Cops are taking necessary steps to ensure stringent steps against reckless driving.