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-   -   How to handle rowdies on the road and teach them a lesson! (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street-experiences/178644-how-handle-rowdies-road-teach-them-lesson.html)

This incident happened to me a few months ago:

It took place between 1700-1730. I was driving along S V road, Bangalore towards Indira Nagar and there's a section near the Gopalan Signature mall where the traffic police have maintained barricades, to prevent people or vehicles from crossing to the other side.

As I was nearing the barricade, a bike rider moved the barricade with his foot (with the help of his pillion rider as well) and entered my lane. He was trying to cross to the other side by avoiding a "U" turn.

I noticed this and slammed on my brakes and luckily managed to stop in time with a manageable distance between my car and them. There was neither any damage nor anyone hurt. I considered both parties to be lucky.

However, the bike rider and his pillion got in front of my car and started shouting abuses at me. I ignored them, but they continued. After about a minute or so, there was a traffic pile up behind me, so I was forced to circumvent them and continue my journey.

The bike riders followed me and somewhere near the big bazaar building, they again stopped right in front of me and started shouting abuses at me. The pillion rider started kicking the car's bumper. The rider came near my side (driver side) and continued to throw abuses. He tried to open the car door, but couldn't succeed since it was locked.

I took the opportunity to take photos of them in the act. After a while, the bike rider, who was near the driver's door used his helmet and hit hard on the ORVM. The mirror unit folded inside and the glass detached and chipped badly. Meanwhile other motorists stopped so they took off on their bike.

With the help of another bike rider, I managed to spot them at the next intersection where I took photos of them and their bike. They told me to do whatever I pleased.

I immediately called up my advocate who advised me to proceed to the nearest police station and lodge a complaint. I met the officer at the Byappanahalli police station where the officer and the SI received my complaint and registered the FIR.

I also informed my insurance company (HDFC) who were really helpful, but told me an FIR copy would be required from the traffic police station. I visited the traffic police station where I had the privilege of meeting the ACP! This was the Indira Nagar traffic police station. The ACP was more than helpful. He not only guided me, but also called up the Byapannahalli police station to further help me.

Within 15 minutes, I got a call from the police station saying that they'd nabbed the bike rider and the pillion.

At the station, the rider and the pillion (who never had the faintest idea that I would lodge a complaint against them) started begging me for forgiveness. His wife also came to the station as she was also worried.

I was however firm in my statement that he needs to pay the full repair bills. The police officer also understood the truth and asked them to pay the bills or he is proceeding with the FIR. The bike guys did try to play around, but the police officer proceeded with the FIR and they immediately settled the amount.

I must say both the Indira Nagar traffic police (ACP) and the Byappanahalli police station officers were really cooperative and helpful.

I am very happy to hear how helpful the cops and the insurance guys were, to help you. That said, I applaud you too because you did not let it go with the typical "forget it" attitude.

The main reason these goons have the courage to act like this is because they feel that our system is corrupt and nobody will take any action. Worst case scenario, a small bribe can be paid and no FIR will ever be registered.

But in this case, things went exactly as it was supposed to. I would have been happy if these two men would have been put behind bars, atleast for 2-3 days. That will teach them a lesson they will never forget in their life and having also, they will have a criminal record in their name which can even spoil their future.

They already have a criminal record against them as the FIR was launched and the matter was also forwarded to the court. My sole purpose was to ensure they dont repeat this with some other person.

Thanks for sharing, Nitin! Moving your post to an independent thread. Deserves to be highlighted.

Well-handled :thumbs up.

Did they confess as to why they pulled this stunt?
If they took off when a crowd gathered, it wasn't for money or they would have made it look like it's your fault and made up a story.
It looks like it was the usual rowdy mentality at play.

I had a similar incident few weeks back when I was traveling back from Kerala and I was just a km away from home when two guys on a scooter overtook from the left and kept weaving in front of me in the process of overtaking an auto.
I have a high tone Hella horn fixed in my car for morons in city and for heavy vehicles on the highway. The moment I blasted that, this guy immediately straightens out his bike blocks my path and doesn't let me overtake for around 200 meters. I was tired after a 500+ kms journey and was in no mood and I overtook him and gave him a mouthful.
Next he comes next to my door and asked me to pull over to start a fight. I did and thankfully my parents put sense into my head and I took off, by then this guy had parked his scooter and was walking towards my car.
He catches up at the next signal and does the same stunt almost, but couldn't stop in front of me due to heavy traffic. By the time he could spot me, I had crossed the signal and he was stuck at Red.
I am sure, these are people who are looking to pick up a fight just for the heck of it and because they have something in their mind against private cars.

But I'm glad you did the right thing and it worked out as expected.

Excellent, this is how you teach a lesson to the wanna be Rowdy Elements. Only the low life act as Rowdies and trouble the innocent motorist thinking that the educated private car owners usually don't revolt.

I usually encounter a lot of these elements on my daily drive and I don't back out usually, but if I am with Family I do exactly what you did. Stay clam and lock the cars.

I would recommend you to install a Dashcam as this has helped me many a times in tricky situations. The moment I have shown the Dashcam to few rowdy bikers & Cabs, they disappear from the scene.

Regards

Very well handled Nitin. You did not take law in your hands, that is really commendable.

These illiterate goons always underestimate the power of common man and think that muscle power is the divine power that they possess.

I tricked one rickshaw driver few months back in Pune. I was descending a flyover when a rickshaw rashly entered into my lane from the adjacent lane. As usual, assuming that it was my mistake, he started abusing, following me. Had to stop at the subsequent red light. Fellow got down from his rickshaw, started abusing again. I pulled down window and simply said sorry as I did not want to get into any unlawful act but wanted to teach him a lesson. He happily went back thinking that he won the battle.

I knew that a bunch of cops was always present about 300 meters ahead. I stopped my car there, got down, communicated the "Scene" to them. Cops stopped the rickshaw that was few meters behind me. Driver did not have any papers. Was pleading me to let him go, he would not repeat the act...(Usual crap). At the end, they took him to police station.

As the Marathi proverb goes "Shaktipeksha yukti shreshtha" (Ideas overpower physical strength).... :)

Great to see that you did the right thing. What on Earth were these guys smoking that they went to such extent!!

It is the other way round as well. I come across many hot headed rowdies with bling bling alloy wheels and a F-1 spoiler on a say Maruti Swift blowing their horns/voice out while am on my humble scooter.

I remember an incident where there was a bottleneck at the entrance of the flyover and I was on my scooter trying to overtake a car and there was a bus in front. There was this bling bling swift with chrome alloys, smoked tail lamps, bright white headlights et al right behind me who started honking as if it was the end of the world.
There was no way he could have overtaken the bus in front of me but simply couldn't digest that a scooter was in front of him. I gave a stern look and didnt bother his honking. After I have overtaken the vehicles, he caught up with me and started to drive parallel to my scooter and dangerously swerving as if he would hit me with the car. I just stopped at the side of the road and let him go.(although I overtook him again as he got stuck in a traffic jam few kms ahead, the very reason why I prefer the scooter over my car :)).

This thread is really an encouragement to not "give-in" and forgive and forget as we generally do. The Swift driver is still probably bullying others as well.

Hats off to you Nitin, very few have the courage to do the right thing and approach the cops. Kudos to cops also for taking immediate actions, more they take such swift actions, more this city will become hospitable and matured.

Really happy that things turned up for your advantage and everything settled with no one hurt.
You did the right thing by staying inside the car at all times.

But I will urge anyone and everyone to not get ahead of yourself in a situation, especially road rage.
An animal is an animal, they could get more aggravated by your counter act and could do worse. You might not have the time and 'got nothing to lose' kind of attitude like the goons on the road.

Such rowdy mentality is increasing day by day and you get a feeling that such people are not afraid of the consequences. Like in this case aswell they already had a criminal record but still had the guts to provoke.
I have faced an incident similar to this on a state highway in Maharashtra where 4 rowdies with high music brushed by ORVM from the opposite side. In a single lane road they were overtaking a vehicle and entered my lane from the opposite side. No damage to my car but there ORVM they said got broken. I had no idea if it was already damaged.. They took a U turn chased me back and stopped me for compensation. It was pretty lonely even if it was in the afternoon and they demanded me bucks for the damages, which I denied politely explaining them that it was there fault. They were threatening me and I had almost decided in my mind to pay them when one of them ran out of patience. He picked up a stone, ramped it on my ORVM until its broken and then they all just fled from the place. I still remember their faces and so is their car no, however I didn’t reach out to the police as I was skeptical of help and had to cover up almost 250 kms to reach my place.
For them these instances doesn’t matter but for people like us it’s very disturbing as these arguments and fights just spoils our entire day to office or leisure.

To teach these rowdy a lesson, its best to have them booked under a FIR. As habits die harder, I am sure they will again commit the same nuisance on other unsuspecting drivers and have their way. But definitely good to know that the police there helped you with the situation in hand.

In Pune, from what I have observed, if there is a road accident or scuffle, the first thing the traffic constables and the police do is to scoot away from the scene.

You really handled the incident very well.My two pence worth of suggestion would be to fix a Car dash-DVR as this would enable you to record the scene with voice and it would help you in cases where there is no evidence. Just point the camera and tell these Road rowdies to see the camera and speak and most of the would scoot.lol:

Thanks for sharing this Nitin. Actually there is a bunch of goons in Kaggadasapura. I request everyone to be very cautious when travelling through that area.

Well I have seen that happening against non KA registered cars in Bangalore but not sure in your case also it's related to your car number plate. Numerous instances have been reported of the latest read as below-

http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india...an-259243.html

Well not trying to single out Bangalore as it happens everywhere. Probably it does not happen against resourceful in other states.