Rogue bikers thrash cop, motorists twice in 8 days
Times of India | 18 April 2025
12 Kolkata: Two incidents of rogue bikers assaulting motorists — and even a traffic sergeant — were reported from the Hastings area since April 7. Cops have lodged two separ-ate FIRs and are trying to nab the accused.
Sergeant Prakash Ghosh from Vidyasagar Traffic Guard was on duty at Hastings crossing around 3 pm on April 15 when he was assaulted.
"I noticed a bike coming via the Hastings ramp. I stopped the vehicle since neither the rider nor the pillion rider had a helmet on. When I asked for a driving licence and other documents related to the vehicle, they could not produce any. Despite this, along with his companion, the biker engaged in a verbal altercation with me and made derogatory remarks. I tried to pacify him and explained the consequences of his behaviour. But he became furious and physically assaulted me. Immediately after the incident, the man fled the scene, leaving his motorcycle behind. After some time, a man named Narayan Poddar approached me, claiming to be the father of the biker, Udday Raj (22), residing at Maheshtala. He apologised on behalf of his son but I decided to hand over the two-wheeler to the Hastings police and lodge an FIR against the biker," Ghosh wrote in his complaint.
The incident came a week after another where bikers assaulted a 52-year-old motorist from Joka at the same spot following a road rage incident.
According to the complainant, Debabrata Das, a resident of a Joka condo, he was driving with his neighbour when the incident took place on April 7. "Around 9.45 am, while I was driving my car towards my office from Belvedere Road and had taken a left turn on AJC Bose Road crossing towards Outram Ghat, a motorcyclist suddenly braked in a reckless manner in the middle of the road. To avoid a collision, I had to brake abruptly as well, which led to another vehicle — a small truck — hitting my car from behind. When I protested and questioned the biker regarding his rash driving and overtaking me from the wrong side, he became aggressive and violent. Without any provocation, he physically assaulted me and my co-passenger, Debashis Majumder, causing us physical injuries. During the assault, there was additional damage to my vehicle. The accused also issued threats of dire consequences, claiming that he would soon teach us a lesson," Das said.
Cops said they are investigating if rogue bikers have become active in the area and are increasing patrolling to curb dangerous riding.