Police commissioner writes to Home ministry to allow traffic police to probe road rage cases

BENGALURU: Instances of road rage are increasing in Bengaluru and other parts of the state despite best efforts by the police department. Every day, at least four to five cases are reported in Bengaluru alone. This despite, City Police Commissioner B Dayananda warning that those involved in road rage would be booked under the stringent Goodas Act.

The primary reason for these incidents is traffic congestion in the city. To address this, plans are under way to transfer responsibility for investigating road rage cases to the city traffic police. So far, the law and order police have been investigating such cases. City Police Commissioner B Dayananda has also written to the Home Minister seeking permission for the traffic police to probe road rage cases.

If the traffic police are allowed to investigate road rage cases, they will file FIRs and conduct an investigation on the basis of evidence and CCTV footage. A letter was written to the Home Department to grant investigative powers to th traffic police under Sections 132 and 118. If approved, traffic police will investigate road rage cases, potentially reducing incidents.