E-Paper
NRI drives around Pune with cop perched on bonnet
On Sunday afternoon, a silver Ford Ikon veered around in Pune’s busy Camp area with a policeman perched precariously on its bonnet. Passers-by watched with horror. Yogesh Joshi reports.
It happened suddenly. Bang in the middle of a busy street.
On Sunday afternoon, a silver Ford Ikon veered around in Pune’s busy Camp area with a policeman perched precariously on its bonnet. Passers-by watched with horror.
At the wheel was non-resident Indian Kamal Jain (65).
The police said traffic constable V B Jadhav was fixing jammers to Jain’s car, which was in a no-parking zone.
This angered Jain, who was nearby. Marching up to the car, he sat at the wheel and started the car. Caught unaware, the constable was flung in the air and atop the bonnet. Jain drove around at a furious pace.
The police said the car was running at 80 km per hour. The drama did not end there.
All of a sudden, gun shots were heard. Deputy Commissioner of Police Ravindra Sengaonkar, who was on duty, saw the constable in danger and opened fire, puncturing a tyre and bringing the car to a halt.
However, four pedestrians sustaining minor injuries because of Jain’s rash driving. They had to be taken to hospital. Constable Jain too sustained minor head injuries.
“My prime concern was to ensure the constable’s safety. As Jain refused to halt the car, I had to fire at the vehicle”, Sengaonkar said.
The police said Jain had returned from Canada a few years ago and was a consultant with a multinational firm.
“We are investigating if Jain has any psychological problem,” Sengaonkar said.
A case of causing injury to a policeman and civilians has been registered against Jain.
