Commuters clash with police after VIP convoy stalls traffic

INCIDENT HIGHLIGHTS PUBLIC ANGER OVER THE CAPITAL’S FREQUENT TRAFFIC SNARLS WHICH LEAVE PEOPLE STUCK IN THEIR VEHICLES FOR LONG PERIODS

NEWDELHI: Amateur video clips of a confrontation between motorists and policemen over traffic restrictions for the President’s cavalcade on a busy Delhi highway have gone viral on social media. At the last count on Friday, one of the videos was viewed more than 2.8 million times and shared by more than 50,000 users.

The video shows motorists threatening to drive past the security barriers as they got into heated exchange with the policemen on duty.

The police tried to reason out with the commuters before one of them allegedly hit a dentist who was leading the agitated motorists.

According to Jitesh Sahgal, the dentist who recorded the incident and was allegedly hit, the showdown between the police and the people began around 9.15 am on Monday.

The point where the route was closed for the public was on the Delhi-Ajmer Expressway on National Highway 48, less than a kilometre from Dhaula Kuan. While traffic was moving on the Delhi-Gurgaon route, vehicles were stopped on the other carriageway to facilitate the President’s journey to the airport.

The incident highlights growing public anger over the capital’s frequent traffic snarls which leave people stranded in their vehicles, sometimes for long periods during rush hours.

Responding to the incident, Dependra Pathak, Delhi Traffic Police head and chief spokesperson, said it was a “rare circumstance” in which the police were “cool, professional, polite and yet firm” despite “abusive behaviour” by the public.

Garima Bhatnagar, Joint CP (Traffic), denied that there was 30-45 minutes delay as alleged by some motorists.