[sabynag]

DOGS AND INDIANS were never allowed to share the same space with the elite ruling class. It is as much true today as it was in British era. The significance of INDEPENDENCE is that we removed the signboard that said DOGS AND INDIANS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

[Guna]

Originally Posted by noopster

It's so sweet to see TBHPians trying to give the benefit of doubt to the ruffian who beat up an innocent motorist. Which planet do you guys live on?

First person experience: one Sunday morning, my whole family (including 3 kids) were out driving when we spotted the scion of a powerful political family (don't ask me who- don't want to get beat up like poor Bharath) in his black European mean machine. My BIL was driving and didn't notice the tailing white Amby with flashing lights right behind (which had lagged behind and was desperately trying to get back into position). One of the bunch of cops in the rear car actually had the temerity to raise his rifle out of the window at me and my 8-year old nephew, while the rest of our nation's finest glared at my BIL and gestured him to slow down. That was one scary experience!

First I thought you were personally present when Bharat was beaten up. If some TBHPians are trying look at both sides of the story more objectively, it just shows their maturity and goes well with the spirit of the forum.

[Sinner666]

The thing to note is that we can only try and argue with the so-called security paraphernalia traveling along with the VIPs. They can always later on justify their actions by declaring the stray car as a threat. I think if i remember correctly, a similar but much more grave incident took place in Delhi long time back, wherein two businessmen strayed onto/into the cavalcade's route in their car. The commandos perceived it as a threat/attack and opened fire killing both of them. I do not know what happened afterward though.

[mmxylorider]

Going through this thread, at least I am clear in my mind to give a wide berth to any car sporting a red beacon, flashing or otherwise. It's disconcerting reading these experiences - especially if connected people like builders can be at the receiving end, what chances to us lowly mortals have?

Policemen might have self interests in mind and will not care about right or wrong (No judgement being passed related to the thread topic)

Out of curiosity, flag officers of the armed forces are also entitled to beacons - But I have not seen pilot vehicles accompanying them. I would like to assume they would be more sensible in sharing road space.

[Cesc]

Originally Posted by amitoj

Heh. Try pulling such a stunt on the Delhi - Chandigarh, or Delhi - Amritsar route. You'll soon be staring at the business ends of 4 AK-47s.

Are you referring to the overtaking of a beaconed car as a stunt?

Regarding the Delhi-Chandigarh-Amritsar route I have overtaken quite a few beaconed cars on that stretch without any repercussions. I don't think there are any issues if you overtake cleanly and are faster than the convoy.

I only had a minor issue once when I was trying to overtake the convoy escorting the Pakistan bus service (without realising what the convoy was about) near Karnal. All cars were following the convoy and I moved into the left lane to overtake. When I came near the bus some black-cat commandos with AKs (sitting in the back of a gypsy following the bus) asked me to move back. I attracted the attention of the senior officer sitting in front and gesticulated that I wanted to move on and he waved me on. I gave a thumbs-up and sped away. It was only after overtaking the entire convoy that my wife pointed out that the bus was heading to Pakistan and hence the police escort.

Originally Posted by fine69

I got out and was checking my car but as soon as the guys stepped out of the gypsy I realized that those must be the security people following the sonata as everybody had a sub-machine gun in their hands. All were dressed in what I guess is called a safari suit.
I was kind of scared when one of the guys started shouting at me that why the hell was I not allowing him to overtake. I told him that I had no idea they wanted me to move aside as there was no hand gesture, neither sound of any siren and nor any beacon. One of the guys caught me by my collar, pushed me against my car and said, "Batti tuti hui hai aur siren kharab hai!".
It sounds funny but trust me that it was one of the scariest moments of my life. I apologized and said that it was totally my mistake and I should have been more careful.
Finally the guy did let go off my collar.

This in Delhi? Looks like the gypsy guys were at fault here. I am all for following the law but in this case if I were you I would have toughed it out with those folks. I am definitely not saying that what you did was wrong - it is a personal reaction and hence the way you reacted is fully understandable.

[lsp]

Overtaking a convoy is always a tricky thing. You have to be more than 100% sure that you will cleanly overtake all of them in a single shot & maintaining a huge gap between your car and the cars in the convoy. Also look at the level of security. 2-4 car convoy is fine but dont try to attempt overtake on a 10 car convoy which has those black safaris with all sorts of antennae to jam radio signals. I have myself overtaken the small convoys a few times but always kept behind those huge ones. Never overtake a convoy which has a limousine. It will either be your head of the state or some other. Mostly the traffic is cordoned off when these convoys travel.

These guys have the audacity to do a lot of things by virtue of the power they get when escorting some big shot.

If I remember correctly a few years ago (8-10 years) there was a news about the PMs convoy firing at a car which was trying to overtake. The car was an esteem I think and the bullet entered the engine bay after making a hole in the bonnet. There was a huge media hue & cry but I dont rem what eventually happened.

[fine69]

Originally Posted by lsp

If I remember correctly a few years ago (8-10 years) there was a news about the PMs convoy firing at a car which was trying to overtake. The car was an esteem I think and the bullet entered the engine bay after making a hole in the bonnet. There was a huge media hue & cry but I dont rem what eventually happened.

Another similar case was that of a scooter rider unintentionally entering the PM's convoy from a road perpendicular to where the convoy was just because there was nobody to stop him from where he was coming (unsure of the exact event but certain that this happened). He was fired upon and though he sped away without getting killed nobody chased him or anything as he was crossing that road and not going where the PM's convoy was headed.

Originally Posted by Cesc

This in Delhi? Looks like the gypsy guys were at fault here. I am all for following the law but in this case if I were you I would have toughed it out with those folks. I am definitely not saying that what you did was wrong - it is a personal reaction and hence the way you reacted is fully understandable.

It was after we take a right from RTR to join the Delhi Gurgaon Expressway, also known as the Vasant Vihar exit if you are coming from Gurgaon to Delhi.

I almost went green with anger as hulk but the moment those guys came out of the car and the way they looked at me, honestly, I'm glad I didn't run away. Those guys were way too huge for Indians and what scared me the most were those sub-machine guns they were carrying and almost pointing them towards me. As I said, there was a moment when I prayed (though I'm an atheist) that if there is a higher power then just get me alive out of this one

I know how you feel but the situation at that time was such that I would never in my dreams would react otherwise then just apologize and try to get out of there asap.

[Cesc]

^^ I understand buddy. Absolutely do . Your description of the situation is pretty clear now. No doubt it was wiser on your part to apologise and get out of the situation.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Q. What do you call a crow with a machine gun?

A. "Sir"

Well, it's a joke I've enjoyed since being a small child, but... it's true!

[Mt.olympus]

More pathetic is that it happened on Aug.15th and that too he is coming back after hoisting the national flag !

[Zombie69]

Originally Posted by lsp

Overtaking a convoy is always a tricky thing. You have to be more than 100% sure that you will cleanly overtake all of them in a single shot & maintaining a huge gap between your car and the cars in the convoy. Also look at the level of security. 2-4 car convoy is fine but dont try to attempt overtake on a 10 car convoy which has those black safaris with all sorts of antennae to jam radio signals. I have myself overtaken the small convoys a few times but always kept behind those huge ones. Never overtake a convoy which has a limousine. It will either be your head of the state or some other. Mostly the traffic is cordoned off when these convoys travel.

These guys have the audacity to do a lot of things by virtue of the power they get when escorting some big shot.

+ 1 to that. Think about it, is it worth risking everything just to overtake and get ahead of them unless you are in some kind of an emergency. Politicians and police can twist the tale in their favor and trust me you can do nothing about it. They can make your life living hell.
Sometimes I wonder (after reading news reports like this in the newspapers) why the hell did I ever come back when I had a great opportunity to stay back in the U.S

-Z

[phamilyman]

Oh this is common even in delhi

... I've faced down the end of an AK47 and some anxious Punjab (?) policemen in a Gypsy accompanying a blinged out Audi Q7 late night an year back.

My only mistake was driving at my usual speeds while that guy was <50 kph. It was a PB11 VIP number and the car was parked outside TGIF, Metropolitan mall. Of course, I was smart enough to realize the car and make way almost immediately so avoided any altercation!!

[simply_sunny001]

Well this is a totally disgusting tale of events and there is surely a shred of doubt about the details of the whole incident.

but this is also true that some politicians are so power drunk and cheap that they think they have become god, this is utterly shameful, this minister should be asked to resign straightaway.

Overtaking shouldnt be a big deal at all but usually it is specially with the body guards.

[noopster]

Originally Posted by Guna

If some TBHPians are trying look at both sides of the story more objectively, it just shows their maturity and goes well with the spirit of the forum.

I absolutely agree. Hurray for free speech. In this case, I'd give the benefit of the doubt to poor Bharath. He suffered the consequences of overtaking a VIP *and* having a Dad for a criminal (of course, what definition a politician applies to the word "criminal" is up for debate ).

Like a couple of other narrators here, I will vouch that being at the receiving end of a rifle is scary, even if there is no intent to actually use it. So I would sincerely advise all TBHPians to give these sirenwalas as wide a berth as humanly possible. In the end what matters most is your life and you safety. By trying to take on these people, you risk both and it's just not worth it.

[amitoj]

Originally Posted by Cesc

Are you referring to the overtaking of a beaconed car as a stunt?

Below is what i am referring to.

Originally Posted by phamilyman

Oh this is common even in delhi

... I've faced down the end of an AK47 and some anxious Punjab (?) policemen in a Gypsy accompanying a blinged out Audi Q7 late night an year back.

My only mistake was driving at my usual speeds while that guy was <50 kph. It was a PB11 VIP number and the car was parked outside TGIF, Metropolitan mall. Of course, I was smart enough to realize the car and make way almost immediately so avoided any altercation!!

That was the sensible thing to do.