NEW DELHI: A traffic policeman hit a young woman with a brick in broad daylight after she refused to give him a 200-rupee (about RM12) bribe for having allegedly jumped the traffic lights near the city centre here.
The incident sparked a fresh debate among public and pressure groups on corruption among enforcement officers, especially policemen, in India.
The policeman’s act was caught on camera and all TV channels and newspapers carried the news, claiming that the incident involving Ramanjeet Kaur was not an isolated one involving rogue policemen in the country.
Ramanjeet Kaur was stopped by head constable Satish Chand when she allegedly jumped a red light and was asked to pay a bribe.
When she refused to pay, Satish allegedly hurled a brick which missed her head and hit her back. Media reports said the policeman then assaulted her.
Ramanjeet Kaur’s two younger children witnessed the incident.
Speaking to the ‘Times Now’ news channel, Ramanjeet Kaur said she was travelling home after a parent-teacher meeting when the policeman pulled her over for allegedly jumping a red light.
“I said I didn’t cross any red light, but if I did, I’m sorry. Then he told me he will issue me a challan (traffic summons).
“He then asked me for my documents which I produced and later said that I can pay Rs200. I told him to issue me a challan. He said ‘no’.
“You can pay Rs200 and go. I said no. Issue me a challan and only then I will pay. Or you can send the challan to my home and then I will pay,” she told the news channel.
The constable was arrested. Satish was initially suspended and subsequently dismissed from service. A case has been registered against him, said Delhi Police Commissioner B. S. Bassi. – BERNAMA