A naval personnel, who allegedly slapped a traffic policeman after he allowed a vehicle carrying a sick person to pass by, was arrested by the police at Kochi.
The Naval personnel, Lt Commander Vikrant Sabnis, slapped the traffic police constable at a busy junction near the Kerala High Court on Monday evening, police said.
Police said Sabnis, who was waiting at the signal in his car, lost his cool after the traffic constable allowed a vehicle carrying a sick person from the Goshree islands to pass.
An angry Sabnis charged out of his car and manhandled the constable, following which an angry crowd immediately gathered, police said. Two other naval officials, who were in the car ran to the Police Commissioner's office to seek shelter.
Sabnis was arrested under section 353 IPC for obstructing the official on duty and was later left on bail, police said.