[dadu]

Friday, August 03, 2007: An attempt-to-murder case was slapped on a driver here after he drove away with a traffic constable - who was trying to stop him - on the bonnet of his vehicle.

The traffic constable, Sarat Singh, escaped with minor injuries but not before the errant driver drove him for nearly two kilometres and stopped only after his Tata Safari sports utility vehicle (SUV) banged against a Ford Ikon car.

The unidentified driver, with registration number PB 32-G-0020 registered in Nawanshahr town in Punjab, 75 km from here, fled after hitting the car even as the constable fell on the road.

The Safari was signalled to stop by traffic policemen at Sectors 19 and 27 as it had dark black film on the windows - not allowed in Chandigarh and Punjab.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Devinder Singh Thakur said efforts were on to trace the vehicle and its driver.

"The helpless constable could have died. This driver has gone too far. He has got a mere traffic offence converted into an attempt-to-murder case," Thakur said.

In the last one year, nearly a dozen city traffic police constables have been injured by motorists who refused to stop despite committing traffic offences. Most of these traffic constables landed up in hospital after being injured by motorists.

Chandigarh has over 600,000 vehicles for a population of just 1 million in a 114 sq km area.

[kpbhatt]

this shows our scant respect for the law and also the fact that some folks think that having big fat deep pockets gives them the license to drive and live as they feel --

[phamilyman]

Maniacs like these fellows are the reason regular guys like us are treated like crooks by traffic policemen. I do hope he's caught and gets a commensurate punishment for this bizarre act.

[gd1418]

This made quite a shocking reading. How callous and insensitive people can become? Why is it that the mere sight of another human being in a police unifirm triggers such contempt and hatred?

I've yet to have an answer to this. The run-away driver of the Safari should not be tried in the court for his folly. Instead an exemplary public punishment should be given. I wish for road violations if we could have the Islamic Law of Gulf or Saudi Arabia?

Originally Posted by dadu

Friday, August 03, 2007: An attempt-to-murder case was slapped on a driver here after he drove away with a traffic constable - who was trying to stop him - on the bonnet of his vehicle.

The traffic constable, Sarat Singh, escaped with minor injuries but not before the errant driver drove him for nearly two kilometres and stopped only after his Tata Safari sports utility vehicle (SUV) banged against a Ford Ikon car.

The unidentified driver, with registration number PB 32-G-0020 registered in Nawanshahr town in Punjab, 75 km from here, fled after hitting the car even as the constable fell on the road.

The Safari was signalled to stop by traffic policemen at Sectors 19 and 27 as it had dark black film on the windows - not allowed in Chandigarh and Punjab.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Devinder Singh Thakur said efforts were on to trace the vehicle and its driver.

"The helpless constable could have died. This driver has gone too far. He has got a mere traffic offence converted into an attempt-to-murder case," Thakur said.

In the last one year, nearly a dozen city traffic police constables have been injured by motorists who refused to stop despite committing traffic offences. Most of these traffic constables landed up in hospital after being injured by motorists.

Chandigarh has over 600,000 vehicles for a population of just 1 million in a 114 sq km area.

[safari_lover]

Why do people act so senseless. It shows utter lack of respect for fellow humans. Hope the constable will get well soon and the driver gets the punishment.

[cypher]

Originally Posted by gd1418

I wish for road violations if we could have the Islamic Law of Gulf or Saudi Arabia?

Crime rates would drop instantaneously.

[theMAG]

High time our traffic cops were armed with revolvers. They can shoot the tyres off these kinds of lunatics.

[hemanthisgreat]

well this is something extreme by the driver. well the way the cops stop vehicles is also very dangerous. they always put themselves in danger.

[ashwin390]

Originally Posted by theMAG

High time our traffic cops were armed with revolvers. They can shoot the tyres off these kinds of lunatics.

Scary thought - considering that fact the cops are also humans, and that shooting tires of a moving car is very very difficult, Hollywood notwithstanding, this will make life more difficult for everyone involved. Imagine if a cop hits the petrol tank - i know the vehicle will not explore with just one bullet through the petrol tank, but multiple bullets would definitely be a big risk, not just to the offender, but also to the cop, who will probably be in close proximity to the exploding vehicle.

I completely agree that such offenders should be caught, tried and punished to the fullest possible extent.

But rather than investing in weapons for cops, you will be better off with better tracking systems. For example, in the case we are discussing now, the cops have the offender's vehicle registration number, yet they have not arrested this guy. If the RTO data was properly maintained, then tracking down the guy's address, and thus the guy himself, would have been child's play.

The main reason why people pull such stupid stunts, is because they know that it is not an easy job to trace them through their vehicle data. If this barrier was addressed, the incentive for people to not stop when ordered to do so by cops would be lost.

[dadu]

I dont think punjab has a "challan by post" concept that is why these things happen and these cops also take undue risk with someone like this person.

They should move to "challan by post" instead of court payments, that way you still fine a person but without risking your life.

[dadu]

Originally Posted by ashwin390

The main reason why people pull such stupid stunts, is because they know that it is not an easy job to trace them through their vehicle data. If this barrier was addressed, the incentive for people to not stop when ordered to do so by cops would be lost.

Assuming that you have changed your address and not informed RTO/changed your registration. In delhi they keep all such challans in your database/file and when you turn up for any changes/after sale and definitely after 15 year to extend your registration, you are presented with all those fines + penalty. Thats a more smarter way to handle these kind of people.

[madan80]

WOW - this is crazy!

but honestly - it was a punjab registered vehicle - and sunfilm is illegal in punjab - so how could that vehicle have gotten away so far?

purely conspiracy theory - and a lot of kite flying - the vehicle must have been stolen from another state with fake plates - the guy wouldnt have wanted to stop so he would have hit and then run away. After all - its not his to loose anyways.

[arunphilip]

Originally Posted by hemanthisgreat

well this is something extreme by the driver. well the way the cops stop vehicles is also very dangerous. they always put themselves in danger.

True, I remember the case of a constable being knocked down and killed in Bangalore last year.

It would be more effective if we have more cops in vehicles to enforce this. This would also help them catch rash drivers.

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

A fancy number vehicle. Obviously driven by the owner's son, who (most definitely will) happens to be some political bigwig's great grandson. That means, some humble saada naukar will turn up in courts tomorrow, claiming that he drove the vehicle. Gurantee!!!
Honestly, why cannot the law enforcement machinery be sensible too? Why cannot they simply videotape the offenders/offences and send the "ransomnote" by registered post to the registered owner's address?
In the UAE, as per info available to me, a vehicle has to turn up at the motor vehicle department every year (probably 3 years) and all the offences which are committed till then are accumulated .... the fines have to be paid at this point of time.
THis will eliminate corruption too, since most of corruption offurs when the vehicle is stopped and before the fact of stoppage by the police officer is recorded.

[Nitin]

Totally insane driver! No commonsense!Poor constable..he must be all shaken up.

Its about time that better ways are used to track such culprits.It couldn't be that tough,given that there are so many mobile police units,and if the word is spread without a delay the person can be caught before he gets too far.