No tolerance: Man sets his bike on fire to protest beating by warden

He had an argument with the officer who had issued him a ticket

FAISALABAD:

A man on Friday set his motorcycle on fire after having an argument with a traffic warden who had issued him a ticket for allegedly violating a traffic rule.

Muhammad Shahab, a witness, told The Express Tribune Waqas alias Vikki, a resident of Model Town, was on his way on a motorcycle. His aunt was riding pillion.

“When they reached near the police station on Kotwali Road, a traffic warden signalled them to stop.”

Shahab said the warden issued a ticket to Vikki saying that he had violated traffic rules. He said Vikki denied the charge.

“They had an argument. The officer got angry and hit Vikki. The woman tried to rescue Vikki but the warden beat her too and tore off her clothes,” Shahab said.

Vikki and the woman cried for help and some passers-by intervened. He said Vikki then set the motorcycle on fire in protest. The warden called Kotwali police who arrested Vikki and his aunt.

“Police took them to the police station but no action was taken against the warden,” said Shakeel Anwar, one of the witnesses.

Mehr Akram, a spokesman for City Traffic Police, said Vikki had been given a ticket for violating a traffic rule.

He said the motorcyclist had an argument with the officer after he had issued him the ticket. “Vikki attacked the warden and the officer hit him in self-defence.”

Akram said the warden had not roughed up the woman. “He did not even touch her,” he said.

The Kotwali station house officer said police were investigating the matter. “We will take appropriate action in light of the findings of the probe,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2014.