Police has taken a Shiv Sena worker into custody as he is accused of physically assaulting a lady traffic constable who asked him not to use mobile at the time of driving in Thane’s busy junction. Surprisingly, no bystander or motorist reacted, raised a voice or took any action when the worker slapped and punched the constable. However, he was finally taken to the police station by a lawyer who interfered in the matter.
It was about 11am when an unnamed 29-yr female constable posted at Nitin Junction under Eastern Express Highway saw 44-yr Shashikant Kalgude chatting on phone while driving SUV at the same time. The constable gave him signal for stopping the car which was ignored by him and he made an attempt of driving past a vehicle but was compelled for applying brakes at a time when she came in front of his car.
In the words of a Naupada police station official, “When the constable asked him to show his driving licence and vehicle documents, Kalgude started abusing her. He then slapped and punched her so hard that her nose started bleeding.”
Pratik Pawar, the advocate who intervened and took the worker to the police station, informed Times Of India that while going by the junction, he observed the man holding her by collar, abusing and slapping constantly. “People were just watching the assault; no one went to her aid. When I intervened, the accused slapped and pushed me too,” said the lawyer. “But I was determined to nab the man who was wearing a locket of Shivaji Maharaj and beating a slim, hapless woman. So, I held on to him and told an onlooker to call the police. Later, I took him to the Naupada police station where the female traffic constable, who was bleeding profusely, registered a case and the accused was arrested,” he further stated.
Shashikant Kalgude is booked under IPC sections 354 for molestation and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty).
These kinds of incidents force us to think where our country is going…. Is it wrong to fulfill one’s duty honestly? Was it the fault of lady traffic constable to stop him from using phone on a busy road? And it’s even more shameful and disgusting that other people on the spot did not do anything to save her.
What do you think can be done to prevent such types of incidents? How can people be motivated to raise a voice against the wrong? Share your views in the comments section below.
