Scooter rider booked for attacking woman traffic constables

PUNE: A 30-year-old woman riding a scooter was booked for abusing and attacking two traffic police constables — Surekha Sabale and Shubhangi Survase — at Mahavir Chowk in Camp on Monday.

The suspect grabbed Sabale’s hair and bit Survase’s hand after she was stopped by the former for jumping a red light. The scooter rider, a resident of Jagtap Chowk in Wanowrie, was booked under sections 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from duty) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty) of the Indian Penal Code.

The woman was heading towards MG Road from East Street when the constable stopped her. The woman jumped the red light at the busy Mahavir Chowk, near the Cantonment Court. Sabale, a police constable of the Cantonment traffic division, was managing the chowk then, said a source in the police.

When she tried to stop the rider, the woman attempted to flee by increasing the speed of her two-wheeler. But Sabale managed to stop her and asked her to show her driving licence.

The woman refused to acknowledge her fault and started arguing with constable Sabale. After she continued to argue, the constable asked her to pay the fine.

“The enraged scooter rider then pushed Sabale and broke down her name plate. She then grabbed Sabale and pulled her hair. The constable screamed for help,” Sabale’s complaint to the Cantonment police stated.

Hearing Sabale’s scream, constable Survase rushed to the spot to rescue her. However, the woman released Sabale’s hair and grabbed Survase’s hand. She dug her teeth deep into Survase’s hand, compelling the latter to screamed out loud.

The passersby and nearby shopkeepers rushed to the spot and helped Sabale and Survase overpower the suspect.

The scooter rider was taken to the police station for further action but as it was getting dark, she was allowed to go home after an FIR was registered against her.