Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
In a case that has raised serious questions about public safety and police response, a road rage incident in Delhi allegedly escalated into a violent assault while police personnel stood by and recorded the episode on their mobile phones.
The incident occurred in East Delhi‘s Preet Vihar area when a car travelling on the wrong side of the road confronted an oncoming vehicle carrying a family. According to the survivor, he merely signalled to the driver that a U-turn was available a short distance ahead.
advertisement
“These people were driving on the wrong side, so I just signalled telling them that the U-turn was just a few metres away. He stepped out of the car and slapped me alleging that I abused him. I did not say a word and just signalled for the U-turn,” the man said.
What began as a verbal confrontation soon turned violent. A PCR call was made and police arrived at the spot, but the situation allegedly worsened instead of being brought under control.
The occupants of the wrong-side car reportedly called additional people to the location.
VIDEO OF INCIDENT GOES VIRAL
The video of the incident shows a chaotic late-evening scene on a busy Preet Vihar roadside.
Both groups were seen arguing around their cars. Soon, a big crowd gathered at the scene trying to intervene in the presence of Delhi Police personnel.
As tempers rose, the warring groups were seen pushing and shoving each other, followed by some men wielding sticks while the terrified women of the family could be heard screaming.
The video of the incident also showed a man, who was apparently hit with a stick, holding his bleeding head.
Throughout the altercation, some police personnel were seen filming the incident on their phones.
“The PCR came when we were peacefully talking. The police were watching. It was one of these people who came forward, started abusing us and hit one of our men in his head with a stick, leaving him bleeding. The police were helpless. They tried to stop these people, but they did not relent,” the man alleged.
An eyewitness gave a similar account.
“A man abused and slapped this person who asked him to drive on the right side. A few moments later, there was a scuffle, resulting in injuries on both sides. They took the canes out and attacked the other group with them. Everything happened in the police’s presence,” the eyewitness said.
Passersby eventually stepped in to separate the groups. Police later took members of both parties to the police station.
The incident has triggered criticism over alleged police inaction and failure to prevent the assault despite being present at the scene. Further investigation into the incident is underway.
– Ends
Inputs by Amarjeet Singh
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
