Bengaluru: A woman police sub-inspector was allegedly abused, manhandled and body-shamed while trying to break up a quarrel involving a lawyer and a police constable at Bhattarahalli signal recently.KR Pura police have registered a case based on her complaint against a lawyer, his friend, a student, the lawyer’s father and others.According to the woman sub-inspector’s complaint, she was on duty on Old Madras Road near Bhattarahalli signal around 8.40am on Aug 12 when she found a scooterist arguing with traffic constable Manjunath after being stopped for riding on the wrong side of a one-way road. When she intervened and questioned him, the scooterist identified himself as a lawyer and allegedly picked a quarrel with her. He allegedly grabbed her hands, dragged her while she was in uniform and assaulted her.Her subordinates, a constable and an assistant sub-inspector who were on duty at the signal, reportedly intervened and tried to stop the altercation. However, the advocate allegedly continued abusing the woman sub-inspector and called his friend, a student, to the spot.The friend allegedly told the woman sub-inspector that he was a student and that she could not take any action against him. He also allegedly grabbed and pulled her right hand, injuring her finger. The sub-inspector said she pushed him away in self-defence, held his shirt and asked her subordinates to call the 112 helpline.The situation escalated when the lawyer’s brother, father and others arrived at the spot. The lawyer’s father allegedly made derogatory remarks about the woman sub-inspector’s body, comparing her to a buffalo, while his brother allegedly made threatening and abusive comments.The advocate allegedly threatened to get her removed from service and warned that he would photograph and record her and circulate the visuals on social and mainstream media.The commotion was brought under control after members of the public and police personnel intervened. The woman sub-inspector later informed the control room and senior police officers about the incident.She later sought treatment at KR Pura government hospital and filed a complaint. She said the confrontation began after the lawyer allegedly violated traffic rules and obstructed traffic, leading to an argument with a car driver. The dispute caused congestion, prompting the driver to alert constable Manjunath.When Manjunath asked the lawyer to move his vehicle and clear the road, the argument escalated. The woman sub-inspector intervened but was allegedly abused, assaulted and threatened while on duty in uniform. The incident was captured on the traffic police body camera.Counter-complaint for assaultA senior officer said the lawyer’s friend, a student, has filed a counter-complaint accusing the woman sub-inspector of assaulting him and damaging his mobile phone. A video of the incident went viral Sunday evening, in which the student claimed he had intervened when the advocate and a car driver were fighting and was allegedly assaulted by the woman sub-inspector when he questioned them.Police have registered a non-cognisable report (NCR) and are seeking court permission to register an FIR. Notices have been served on the accused and an investigation is under way.
