An ex-armyman working as a taxi driver was allegedly beaten up by two policemen apparently after he failed to notice their signal to stop, sparking protest by locals and taxi drivers at Dugadda area in Pauri district.
The alleged incident of police atrocity occurred last evening when Bhagwan Singh, an ex-army man, was assaulted by the cops, who had accused him of misbehaving with them and trying to run them over.
SP of Pauri Vimala Gunjyal said on the basis of prima facie evidence police constables Sonu Singh and Sachin Kumar involved in incident have been taken off active duty and attached with the police lines after Kotdwar Circle officer was asked to file a report in the matter.
According to an official, an FIR was initially lodged against the taxi driver for allegedly misbehaving with the policemen.
A counter complaint was, however, filed against the cops after the taxi passengers claimed that the policemen had followed their vehicle on a motorcycle and assaulted the driver after he failed to notice their signal to stop.
They said they were coming from Kartia village in Pauri Garhwal. Near the check-post at Dugadda, two policemen raised their hand to signal the driver to stop which the driver did not notice. "At Aamsaur, the policemen stopped the taxi by overtaking it and started abusing the driver. When he said that he did not see the signal, they dragged him out of the seat and started beating him with belt," alleged Mahesh Chandra, who was in the taxi at that time.
The cops later brought the driver along with passengers and the taxi to Kotdwar police station and lodged a FIR against him.
Angered by the incident, Taxi Union members and locals reached the police station and demanded action against the policemen. Later a griup of journalists who reached the police station also complained about the behaviour of the policemen and lodged am FIR against them.
The policemen had alleged that the taxi driver tried to crush them under the taxi when they signaled him to stop. He even tore the uniform of one of the policemen, allegations which were rejected by the passengers in the taxi.
