Tension prevailed near Mugtihalli on the outskirts of Chikkamagaluru town on Tuesday morning, after a service revolver-wielding police sub-inspector was assaulted by a few people following an incident of road rage. Chikkamagaluru Rural PSI R.P. Gaviraj suffered minor injuries in the incident, following which senior police officers rushed to the spot and took six people into custody on charges of assaulting the police official.
The PSI was returning to Chikkamagaluru in a private car when he accidentally hit an SUV from behind. The SUV driver picked up an argument with the PSI, who was in plain clothes, and called up a few of his friends over the phone to the spot. According to eyewitnesses, Gaviraj identified him as a police official. However, the group of people supporting the SUV driver continued to assault him. The officer took his service revolver from his pocket and that angered them further. The PSI called up senior officers over the phone and informed them about the incident.
Within a few minutes, the local people stopped vehicles on the road connecting Chikkamagaluru-Mudigere, forcing senior police officers to reach the spot. The police brought the situation under control and took six people into custody. Mr. Gaviraj told presspersons that he was returning after an investigation into a theft case reported in his station limits around 9 a.m. when the incident happened. “The SUV in front of me stopped suddenly, forcing me to apply brakes. It was a minor accident with no major damage to the vehicle. The SUV driver picked up an argument and assaulted me. I had to take my service revolver in my hand as it is my duty to safeguard it. I did not threaten anybody of opening fire.”
