Bengaluru: A 33‑year‑old woman police sub‑inspector attached to the K R Puram Traffic Police Station was allegedly assaulted and subjected to obscene and derogatory remarks while on duty on August 12, police said on Sunday. Four men have been named in a first information report and a probe is under way, according to PTI reporting and police statements.
Incident at K R Puram traffic post
Police said the officer was on traffic duty when she intervened in an argument between a man identified as Hemant Reddy — who told officers he is an advocate — and constable Manjunath over a traffic matter. The FIR states that when the sub‑inspector questioned Hemant, he allegedly picked a quarrel with her, grabbed and pulled her hands and assaulted her, causing injuries.
Colleagues who were on duty nearby are reported to have stepped in to separate the parties. The FIR further alleges that Hemant then called another man, Rahul, who is said to have held and pulled the PSI’s right hand and caused an injury to a finger. According to the complaint, the officer pushed Rahul away in self‑defence and asked the assistant sub‑inspector to call the emergency helpline 112.
Police said that the situation escalated when Hemant’s brother Harshith and their father Radhakrishna, along with others, arrived and abused and threatened the woman officer. The FIR records allegations that the accused body‑shamed and verbally abused the sub‑inspector, using obscene and insulting language aimed at her appearance.
Charges and legal provisions
Based on the sub‑inspector’s complaint, a case has been registered against four men under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, police said. The FIR lists the following provisions:
- Section 74 — assault or use of criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty
- Section 121(1) — voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter a public servant from duty
- Section 132 — assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of duty
- Section 351(2) — criminal intimidation
- Section 352 — intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace
- Section 3(5) — common intention
| Accused | Alleged role |
|---|---|
| Hemant Reddy | Allegedly initiated assault on PSI; claimed to be an advocate |
| Rahul | Arrived on Hemant’s call; allegedly held PSI’s right hand and caused finger injury |
| Harshith | Hemant’s brother; alleged to have abused and threatened the officer |
| Radhakrishna | Reportedly the father of Hemant and Harshith; alleged to have abused and threatened the officer |
"A case has been registered under the specified sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and further investigation is underway," police said.
Local context and implications
The alleged assault occurred at K R Puram, a busy traffic junction and residential‑commercial hub in east Bengaluru. The FIR, filed by the sub‑inspector, raises questions about the safety of police personnel — especially women officers — while performing routine traffic duties in public spaces. Officers managing traffic often work without the benefit of immediate backup, and incidents such as this can escalate rapidly when members of the public become confrontational.
The use of emergency helpline 112 was recorded in the FIR; police said colleagues intervened at the scene. Law enforcement sources indicated that the accused have been booked and that further investigation will determine whether arrests will follow and if additional charges are warranted.
What police have said and next steps
Police confirmed that the FIR cites physical assault as well as intimidation and abusive conduct amounting to an outrage of modesty. The probe will examine eyewitness accounts, any available CCTV footage in the area, and medical reports documenting injuries sustained by the officer.
Authorities did not provide details on the current whereabouts of the accused or whether any of them have been detained. The case remains an active investigation, and police said they will take appropriate action as the enquiry progresses.
The incident adds to ongoing public debate in Bengaluru over the protection of frontline women personnel, law and order at traffic points, and the treatment of public servants while on duty. Residents in K R Puram and neighbouring localities said such episodes underscore the need for quick police response at busy junctions and for deterrent action against those who assault or intimidate officers.
