Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 23: The ‘open loot’ by Traffic Police on the roads was witnessed by a large number of people today just behind the seat of the Government (Civil Secretariat) and the office of State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) when three Traffic officials beat-up a three-wheeler operator for not paying ‘entry’ (bribe) to them despite repeated pleas by the driver that he was not carrying any passengers.
Reports said Traffic Police officials intercepted an empty three-wheeler operator Sanjay Kumar at Rotary Chowk Naka behind Secretariat and SVO office and sought ‘entry’ from him. The auto driver refused to pay the bribe on the ground that he was not carrying any passengers.
The Traffic officials started beating-up the three-wheeler operator for his refusal to bribe them. In the process, the Rotary Chowk was jammed by the traffic and the vehicles crossing the Chowk got struck. The people came out of their vehicles and took strong objection to naked dance of barbarism by the uniformed men openly on the road.
The people sounded Traffic Police authorities. SSP Traffic, Jammu, Manmohan Singh reached the spot and ordered attachment of all three Traffic officials, who have been identified as Sub Inspector (Sector Officer) Mohan Lal, Head Constable Rakesh Kumar and Constable Rakesh Sharma.
Injured driver Sanjay Kumar was taken to the Government Medical College, Jammu for treatment. Surprisingly, local police has not registered any case despite the eyewitness account that it was a fit case of attempt to murder, extortion and loot, which took place behind the Civil Secretariat and the Vigilance office.
However, to complete mere formality, Traffic Police attached the extortionist officials and ordered an inquiry against them. Later, IGP Traffic Muneer Khan ordered shifting of SI Mohan Lal to Kashmir.
The local people were of the view that Traffic Police officials instead of performing their duty of regulating traffic were engaged only in extortions from the vehicle operators.
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