11 March,2009 09:25 AM IST | | Imran Gowhar
SHOCK! Six cops, hundreds of motorists stand by and watch the fun
A PHOTOGRAPHER and his parents were beaten up by a group of drunks in full public view on Monday at 9.15 pm on BEL road near MS Ramaiah hospital.
Traffic policemen on the spot did not bother to help,despite repeated pleas from the family.
Venkatesh (name changed as the complainant requests anonymity) said a car with six men chased him.
"They were driving like maniacs and banged our car from behind," he said.
Family assault
Venkatesh pulled up and stopped. "They immediately pounced on us as soon as we got out of the car. They attacked my father and mother who tried to intervene," he said. His brother who rushed to his parents' rescue was also beaten up.
All this happened amidst heavy traffic. About a hundred motorists stopped their vehicles to watch the scene,but no one came to their rescue.
Dummy cops
Most shocking to Venkatesh was that six traffic policemen,on a checking drive, also watched the assault helplessly.
"My mother rushed towards them, pleading for help, but they brushed her aside saying it was not their problem," said Venkatesh.
The attackers walked away when Venkatesh's efforts to get them arrested at the police station failed. "The policemen stood gazing blankly, when at least they could have detained them for drunken driving," Venkatesh told MiD DAY.
Punish them
Venkatesh, who filed a complaint with the Sanjay Nagar police station wants the guilty punished. "My faith in the city is deeply shaken. Not only were unsuspecting people assaulted by drunk youth in fancy cars, but they did not even spare my mother... Is there any humanity left in our city?" he asked in an email.
When the matter was brought to the notice of DCP traffic east, K Srinivas, he admitted that it is indeed a law and order problem and should not be dealt by traffic police.
He however said that the traffic police could have averted the fight. He assured that he would take up the issue and initiate necessary action.
