Chandigarh policeman who slapped resident for filming him suspended

The Chandigarh Police on Saturday suspended a head constable who slapped a local resident when the latter made a video of the policeman talking on his mobile phone while driving a motorcycle and not wearing his helmet properly.

Head Constable Surinder Singh has also been issued traffic tickets (challans) for not wearing a helmet and talking on his mobile phone while driving.

"The policeman whose video is circulating has been booked for breaking traffic rules, his DL seized and he has been suspended," Chandigarh's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) - Traffic Shashank Anand tweeted on Saturday.

The erring policeman was posted with the security wing of the Chandigarh Police.

Local resident Sumit Kumar had made a video of the policeman on Friday on the road dividing Sector 36 and 37 when the policeman was driving while talking on the phone.

When Kumar stopped his scooter near Singh's motorcycle and questioned him on why he was talking on the mobile while driving, the policeman slapped him.

The video was posted in social media and went viral within hours.

Congress leader and former MP Manish Tewari re-tweeted the video, asking Chandigarh DGP Tejinder Luthra to take action.

Police officials said the police top brass had taken the incident seriously and suspended the head constable. They have also asked the Chandigarh transport authorities to suspend his driving licence for three months.

--IANS

js/nir/bg