Private bus knocks down traffic constable

A 41-year-old traffic constable sustained injuries when a private bus knocked him down near the Gateway of India on Sunday afternoon.

A 41-year-old traffic constable sustained injuries when a private bus knocked him down near the Gateway of India on Sunday afternoon.

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The constable, Bharat Shinde’s left leg was fractured.

The accident took place after the constable, attached to the Colaba traffic division, waved at the bus to stop so that he could inspect its licence and registration papers. Though the accused driver managed to flee from the spot after the incident, he was arrested soon.

An officer from the Colaba police station that is investigating the case said, “The constable specifically asked the bus to halt as the driver was driving rashly. Though he pretended to stop near the constable, he suddenly stepped on the accelerator and the bus crushed the constable’s leg.” Soon after the driver saw what he had done, he fled from the spot.

The police said that driver, identified as Rafique Shaikh, 32, is a resident of Dockyard Road. Soon after the accident, Shinde was rushed to a private clinic nearby, from where he was taken to a government hospital. The doctors said his left leg was fractured and he was then admitted to the hospital.

The police then traced the bus and arrested Shaikh soon after. The police have registered a case under Sections 279 (rash driving) and 338 of the IPC. The accused was produced in a local court and was released on a cash bail of Rs5,000.