Road rage shocks B'luru again

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Just three days after a shocking road rage incident in Govindaraj Nagar police station limits, residents and motorists near Ullal Main Road were surprised to see a man dangling on the bonnet of an SUV in the city on Friday. The CCTV footage of the incident went viral on social media showing Darshan, 29, struggling to stay put on the bonnet of the car allegedly driven by a woman, identified as Priyanka.

According to the police, Darshan and Priyanka had an argument after they both came face to face while driving their cars on Jnanabharathi Main Road around 10:30 am. As Priyanka's car reportedly crashed into his, Darshan got out of his vehicle, and tried to talk to her and the other occupants. This made Priyanka angry and she allegedly accelerated. Darshan, trying to stop her, quickly jumped and climbed onto the bonnet of her car.

Priyanka however continued to speed with Darshan dangling on the bonnet. Several motorists and the residents attempted to stop Priyanka's car on the road. After reportedly driving for around four kilometers, she stopped the vehicle near Sankalpa hospital, sources said.

Later Priyanka and her husband Pramod were booked on charges of attempt to murder and conspiracy. Pramod lodged a counter- complaint against Darshan and his three friends accusing them of beating him up and attempting to assault his wife, the police said adding that five people were booked in this connection.

“My wife was driving the car when another car, which came from the opposite direction at Ullala junction, blocked our way. The traffic behind both vehicles came to standstill. Making way, my wife drove away and the man in the opposite car shouted at my wife. My wife showed her hand at him. The man blocked our vehicle and abused us. I called the police control room and two cops arrived. Fearing for our lives, we decided to leave the place and as my wife drove, the driver from the other car sat on the bonnet. We stopped the car near a hospital. Then, the man with his friends attacked us, pulled my wife’s clothes and smashed the windshield of our car,” Pramod’s complaint read.

Based on his complaint, police booked Darshan and three others under different sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) — 354 (Assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354B (Assault or use of criminal force on a woman with intent to disrobe). In a similar incident three days ago, a youth, Sahil, dragged 71-year old Muthappa after ramming his bike into the former's car.

As Sahil tried to flee, Muthappa, in a bid to stop him from escaping, held on to his scooter. Yet, Sahil dragged him for a kilometre thinking that he would leave the vehicle. Passersby intercepted Sahil and handed him over to the police.