Traffic cops thrash two motorcyclists in Rawalpindi

Wardens beat one-way violators for resisting bid to impound two-wheeler

RAWALPINDI:

A video of a scuffle between a traffic warden and two youths doing rounds on the internet, particularly in the social media groups in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, has drawn criticism from citizens of the violent behaviour of traffic personnel with the youngsters.

The video of a scuffle between traffic wardens and two young motorcyclists on Bank Road surfaced on Wednesday.

The bikers were briefly detained at the Cantt police station for “obstructing government officials” and were later released on a verbal apology.

The video shows at least four traffic wardens stopping two motorcyclists on violation of one-way on Bank Road. However, other vehicles on the road moved freely in the wrong direction.

One of the wardens sat on the motorbike and tried to ride it away to impound it.

However, as one of the youngsters tried to stop him, the warden slapped him in the face.

The policeman then got down from the bike and grabbed the youngster by his collar.

Meanwhile, the other motorcyclist went forward to intervene and stop the wardens but another warden threw him to the ground. This agitated the boy and he struck the traffic policeman with his helmet.

Meanwhile, a scuffle broke out between the wardens and the youngsters, and being more in number, the traffic personnel easily kept both motorcyclists under control.

In the meantime, a Cantonment police team also reached the site and held both youngsters who were to the police station.

City Traffic Police (CTP) officials said that the motorcyclists were stopped for violating one-way. However, later on, the youngsters were released on verbal apology without any legal action.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2021.