Kolkata: A Kolkata Police traffic sergeant was severely injured on Friday night after a motorist, who was stopped at a Behala naka for alcohol checks, broke through the guardrails and hit him before fleeing the scene. Five other cops also had a narrow escape.
The reading during the check was found to be ‘positive’, which indicated that the driver was under the influence of alcohol, said cops.
Victim, sergeant Bidyut Biswas, has been admitted to a local hospital where he was stated to be out of danger. Cops said the accused, a Behala resident, has been identified but is yet to be arrested as he was not found at home during the raid.
According to sources, Biswas is currently posted as a Diamond Harbour traffic guard. Biswas along with Behala cops were part of the team at the checkpoint which was set up at the Diamond Harbour Road-Banamali Naskar Road intersection around 10.30 pm.
“We had flagged a Honda City car to stop and asked the driver to undergo a breathalyzer test. The driver halted the car in the middle of the road with its face towards Taratala on DH Road. After we completed the check, we found the reading positive. To comply with rules, we directed him to park his car to the left and get out of it. The driver, though, suddenly accelerated and swerved straight at Biswas and hit him. Biswas had to jump to save himself. The driver then escaped,” said an officer, who was present at the spot.
The Behala police, who have registered a case against the accused, said they used CCTV footage to identify the driver.
“It’s a used car and the ownership was never transferred. From studying the footage to examining the leads, it took us some time to identify the accused. A case under BNS pertaining to assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty, rash and negligent driving and other sections of Motor Vehicles Act has been registered at Behala PS,” said DC (Behala) Rahul De.