Bengaluru: Transport dept official rams auto; drivers stage protest

BENGALURU: Auto drivers staged a protest at Electronics City after a transport department official allegedly rammed his car into an autorickshaw on Thursday. The injured driver has been hospitalised.
The incident occurred at 10.45am when K Manjunath, 55, a senior motor vehicles inspector, crashed his car into 35-year-old Syed Imran’s auto when he was waiting for passengers near Tata Consultancy Services.Other auto drivers and bystanders, who were at the location, alleged the officer was driving rashly and was under the influence of alcohol.
Though the inspector tried to pacify the autodrivers saying it was an accident and he had not consumed alcohol as alleged by them, the autodrivers blocked a section of the busy road and resorted to slogan-shouting.Jurisdictional police arrived at the spot and took control of the situation.
Deputy commissioner of traffic KV Jagadish said there was no trace of alcohol in Manjunath’s blood. “We subjected Manjunath to a blood test. The report clearly showed there was no trace of alcohol. We have registered a case under IPC section 279 (rash and negligent drive),” said Jagadish .