Youths throw chilli powder in cop’s eyes for being hauled up

Saki Naka Police arrested two young men late on Sunday for allegedly attacking a traffic constable, Samiullah Bhaldar, 54, by throwing chilli powder in his eyes.

Bhaldar, who was on duty near Saki Naka on Thursday afternoon, saw two youths, Shamsuddin Karia, 21, and Naseer Baig, 20, driving rashly and proceeded to stop them and issued a stern warning. Enraged that Bhaldar had embarrassed them, the duo rushed off, returned with chilli powder and threw it in his face.

Afterwards, Karia and Baig pinned down Bhaldar to the ground, kicked and punched him. They fled the spot, leaving the constable struggling on the road. Another traffic constable deployed at a spot near Saki Naka rushed to Bhaldar's aid and took him to the emergency ward of the nearest civic-run hospital. After being treated at the hospital, Bhaldar registered a complaint of assault against the two accused and police began their search.

Police sources said Bhaldar, a traffic constable attached to the Marol unit of Mumbai Traffic Police (MTP) caught Karia and Baig riding zigzag on a single-lane road. In their bid to get away, they dashed into pedestrians before crashing their vehicle a few metres ahead.

Police scoured CCTV footage from the vicinity to identify and catch the duo. A team was deployed to nab them. Kishor Sawant, a senior police inspector of Saki Naka police station said, "The duo have been booked under Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty (section 353) and punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation (section 352) of the Indian Penal Code."

Another traffic constable deployed at a spot near Saki Naka rushed to Bhaldar's aid and took him to the emergency ward of the nearest civic-run hospital