Constables beat driver in full public glare

His wife Sheila and tempo owner Haroon Shaikh reached the spot and the constables took them to the chowki where the issue was “settled amicably.”

“The police told me they would book my husband for driving under the influence of liquor and using foul language,” she said. Haroon said the driver was drunk and damaged two vehicles. “I have dismissed him. The state in which he was driving could have caused a few deaths,” he added.

On Friday morning,the driver’s family again decided to lodge a complaint after his condition worsened. His wife said,“His body is swollen. There are red marks everywhere. He is not able to get up from bed and is sounding disoriented. We could not take him to hospital as he earned nothing yesterday as he was dismissed from service…The only question I want to ask the police chief is whether they have a right to beat a violator?

When contacted,Deputy Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil said the traffic police had no right to beat any traffic violator. “If the aggrieved family approaches me,I will initiate a probe and take appropriate action,” he said. The family said they tried contacting Patil several times on phone,but to no avail. “We will personally meet him on Saturday and lodge a complaint,” said his wife.

Pimpri police sub-inspector V Chavan said the woman had reached his office complaining about the incident. “I will inquire as to what exactly happened. But it is true that traffic police have no right to beat any violator.”

Human rights activist advocate Aseem Sarode said the family should approach police. “If police are not ready to take cognizance,activists will take up the issue,” he said.