Interior designer attacked, driver dragged for 4km on cab's bonnet in Ghaziabad

GHAZIABAD: A 43-year-old interior designer and her driver were allegedly attacked by a cabbie and his friend in an incident of road rage in Sahibabad on Friday night. At one point, the cabbie stepped on the accelerator and drove for almost 4km, with the woman's driver clinging on to the bonnet.
Kiran Uppal, the interior designer, said she was returning home in Rajendra Nagar when the cab crashed into her car from behind. Her driver, Vijay Kumar, stopped to check the damage to the vehicle and got into an argument with the cabbie.
"It was around 10pm. We had reached the Mohan Nagar junction when a white WagonR rammed our car from behind. When Vijay asked the cabbie to drive carefully, it led to an argument. The cabbie and his friend pushed Vijay to the ground and started abusing him. When I got out and intervened, one of them grabbed my hand and abused me as well," Uppal said in her complaint.
When the argument escalated, Vijay was allegedly attacked with a brick. "He was oozing blood from the injuries. I slapped the man who had grabbed my hand and pushed him to rescue myself. I tried calling the police helpline number at least 10 times, but could not get through to it," Uppal alleged.
The accused then snatched the car keys and started to drive away. Vijay stood on the way, but they did not stop. They kept driving for around 4km, with Vijay clinging on to the cab's bonnet.
Four men on two scooters, who had stopped to see the fight, gave them a chase, and forced the cab to stop after 4km. One of them recorded a video of the chase, which was circulated widely on social media platforms.
"I took Vijay to the hospital. He is stable now," Uppal said.
With Vijay on the bonnet, the cab crossed Mohan Nagar, Pasonda and Wazirabad. The route has two police posts - Hindon and Karan Gate - but no cop was there on the road to stop the cab, the designer alleged.
After repeatedly failing to connect with the police control room, Uppal called the Sahibabad ACP. An hour had passed by then.
A police team reached the spot. "Four teams were formed to nab the accused. They were arrested from their houses on Saturday. Following a complaint by the designer, an FIR was registered against the cabbie and his friend under sections 279 (rash driving), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 352 (assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation) of the Indian Penal Code," said Bhaskar Verma, the Sahibabad ACP.
The cabbie was identified as Gautam Kumar (31), a resident of Tila Mor. He was arrested along with his friend, Ankit Kumar (30), who lives in Sahibabad. Both of them were remanded in judicial custody.