A head constable of Ahmedabad’s ‘N’ Division traffic police was suspended on Saturday after he allegedly hit a woman during an argument over traffic violations in the Paldi area, police said.
The incident took place on Friday evening. A purported video of the altercation spread widely on social media and drew political reactions, including from Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani, who demanded strict action against the policeman.
Police say woman jumped signal; dispute escalated over helmet and ID card
At a press conference on Saturday, DCP Bhavna Patel, Traffic (West), said the woman had violated a traffic signal and was stopped by head constable Jayantibhai, who questioned her about not wearing a helmet.
Patel said the woman asked for the officer’s ID card and threw it on the ground, after which an argument followed. “She then swore at the police personnel and in turn, the HC too raised his hand against her,” Patel said, adding that the constable had been suspended.
Patel said investigators were still verifying whether the ID card was thrown or fell to the ground, and that an inquiry into the sequence of events was underway. She also said the police personnel should not have raised his hand against the rider.
Cross complaints filed; FIR against woman, her complaint pending
Police said the woman has been booked for obstructing a public servant from performing his duties in an FIR filed at the ‘N’ Division traffic police station.
The woman also filed a complaint against the constable at Paldi police station, but police said no FIR had been filed on her complaint so far.
Speaking to reporters, the woman alleged the constable first grabbed her hand during the argument. “When I questioned him about touching me, he slapped me hard on the face, causing minor bleeding,” she said, according to a PTI report.
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