Shocking - Mumbai Traffic Police encounter This happened yesterday night on the LBS road. I left Mulund and was going towards Powai.
A truck was ahead of me, a bus was on the left side of the truck. A biker was running parallel to me on my left side and an auto was on the left of the biker.
Now the bus stops at its scheduled stop, the truck moves ahead and the I slow down so that the biker can go in front of me. As the biker is between the truck and the bus - the auto guy sees the bus stopping and me slowing and without looking anywhere simply turns right to overtake the stationary bus. His auto hits the rear of the biker who then loses control - zig zags but ultimately hits the truck LHS rear wheel and then falls just near the bus driver door. His bike has been twisted to bits.
I watch in horror but the biker seems ok - and he has the presence of mind to get up and hobble out of the way and sit on the footpath. I overtake the bus and stop near the foot path. I check if the guy is fine - he seems okay.
I see the auto guy take off like his pants were on fire. I decide that with many people helping the biker - I should catch the auto guy. I take off behind him. And manage to stop him after a few hundred metres.
I get down and the guy is shivering and says - "Hamari galti nahi thi sahab"
I tell him - "galti nahi thi toh bhaga kyu ? "
I tell him to come back and take the injured biker to the hospital - I drive keeping the auto between the divider and my car. Suddenly another car comes in from a side road blocking me - and the auto guy escapes. I have noted the number of the auto.
I decide to chase him but its futile in that evening traffic and besides I did not want to take a chance by driving rash on public roads.
Ahead, just opposite the Nirmal Mall I see at least 20 traffic cops and a couple of inspectors with stars. They are collecting fines from unsuspecting bikers and motorists and truckers.
I park the car and walk down, explain the whole scene along with the location and tell them that I have the auto number as well. I expected them to at least depute a couple of havaldars on a bike to the spot but to my utter shock - the havaldar says tum police chowky mein jaaoo !!
I was stunned - did not know what to do.
I loudly (angrily) told the havaldar - its a traffic police case not a police case. At least go and check what has happened at the spot.
The inspector (stars on his uniform) hears this and says (to the havaldar) - take the number of the auto.
I give them the auto number - he writes it on his fine ka receipt book and tells me that we will call control room and take care of the situation.
Now I am zapped, tell him - your control room is in Worli and the spot where this happened is not even 5 minutes from here, why don't you go now ?
He is adamant and keeps replying - We will contact control room.
I make a last attempt and ask him if he wants to note my number. He is not interested.
I walk away dazed at this apathy from our cops and in hind sight I feel - I should have taken the chance to give chase and catch the auto guy but would that have helped ?
This is our Traffic Police Dept. - how do you except anything good to happen ?
Last edited by normally_crazy : 26th December 2007 at 17:04.
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