Mumbai: ‘Don’t risk your life trying to chase after unruly motorists’

Sub-Inspector Ravindra Khavale

The Mumbai Police's top brass has told cops to not risk their lives after a recent incident in which a 57-year-old sub-inspector was severely harmed by a miscreant. The injured police officer had to be rushed to the hospital where he underwent three consecutive surgical procedures to save his left hand. The Parksite police had set up a nakabandi in front of Huma Mall at Kanjurmarg on Friday night. Around 2 am the next day, a speeding Maruti Suzuki Eeco approached the nakabandi but the driver didn't slow down even after a constable signalled at him. PSI Ravindra Khavale tried to bring the car to a halt by blocking its way but was knocked down by the vehicle.

The incident has irked top officials. Joint Commissioner (Traffic) Pravin Padwal said, "At workshops and meetings and during visits, I have clearly told constables and officials not to indulge in any altercations over violations, even during nakabandi duty. The instructions are clear: they must never attempt to block a speeding vehicle. We have multiple ways to track such violators but risking one's life is not acceptable."

Multiple incidents have occurred where cops have either been assaulted by violators or knocked down. Citizens have complained that cops don't listen to their pleas when caught and remove the keys of the vehicle, humiliating them on the road and in front of their families.

A senior police officer said, "Errant and/or drunk drivers are cautioned after being spotted at checkpoints. Most of the time they try to avoid them. But sometimes they try to charge at cops. The cop's duty is to anticipate such scenarios and act accordingly. At the most, a cop should show his baton to an errant motorist. If he doesn't stop despite the warning and presence of zig-zag barricades, the police officer shouldn't attempt to stop the vehicle by going in front of it."

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Satyanarayan Chaudhary, joint commissioner (law and order), said, "A policeman's job is a risky job, but we have to do it carefully and tactfully. The standard operating procedure for placing nakabandi is already in place and all the cops have been instructed to follow the same. Barricading, use of reflectors and walkie-talkies are all there. If cops follow instructions, there won't be any such unfortunate incidents."

Past instances

August 2, 2023: A traffic police constable was injured by the helmetless rider of a two-wheeler in Parel

July 18, 2023: A 34-year-old traffic cop suffered injuries after a biker, who was riding three-up and without a helmet, dashed into him near the Eastern Freeway in Govandi

October 4, 2022: Constable Abhimanyu Rampure, 43, fractured his right hand after being knocked down by bikers

May 14, 2021: Constable Shankar Magar's right leg was fractured on Western Express Highway after being knocked down by a motorcyclist

Nakabandi protocol

>> Set up zig-zag barricades
>> Use LED batons and megaphone
>> Note the number of vehicles that don't stop and pass the information on to the main control room