A Bengaluru man recently recounted a harrowing experience in which his car was attacked by a group of men in the middle of a busy road in the Kudlu area. Sharing pictures and videos of the incident on X, user Deven Mehta claimed that the attackers shattered his car windows, threw stones and threatened him and a woman inside his vehicle – all while a traffic police officer allegedly looked on without intervening. “My car was attacked by goons on crowded bangalore streets at 7pm while a traffic police watched them break glasses, throw stones & threaten us at Kudlu, despite a woman in the car,” Mr Mehta wrote on X. 

My car was attacked by goons on crowded bangalore streets at 7pm while a traffic police watched them break glasses, throw stones & threaten us at Kudlu, despite a woman in the car.@BlrCityPolice@DCPSouthBCP@BangaloreMirror@BangaloreTimes1@CMofKarnataka@peakbengalurupic.twitter.com/FEcg9cUn0e

— Deven Mehta, CFA (@devenmehta14) November 1, 2024

In another post, the X user shared why the group of men attacked his vehicle. “Their bike touched my car (old car) from behind (their fault) in head-to-head traffic. I was looking from my mirror when they yelled in Kannada. I told them “Kannada illa, no problem, no damage- aap jao”. I believe they got infuriated at how a Hindi man gave them instructions,” Mr Mehta said. 

In response to the post, the Bengaluru police requested further details, urging him to share his contact information via direct message. However, Mr Mehta declined to share any information, citing safety concerns. “Sorry, I don’t want to provide any details as I don’t feel safe. I have shared it here so that more people remain vigilant and careful on the streets till we get better police and safety services,” he wrote. 

Sorry, I don’t want to provide any details as I don’t feel safe. I have shared it here so that more people remain vigilant and careful on the streets till we get better police and safety services

— Deven Mehta, CFA (@devenmehta14) November 1, 2024

Meanwhile, in the comment section of Mr Mehta’s post, several users expressed frustration over the growing crime rate in the city. 

“@BlrCityPolice congratulations. The city has gone to the dogs. Your inaction and silence on such matters is deafening. I sincerely hope you do something better than asking the sufferer for more details,” wrote one user. 

“Wow….Bangalore is turning safer by the day. Goons being given a free hand to attack people, road range on the rise, everyone wants to come first on the road and show off this shitty driving skills, violations everywhere. Great progress seen in India’s Silicon Valley,” sarcastically commented another. 

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“A few  months back ihad seen a road rage incident at kathriguppe signal where two bike hooligans were thrashing each other at the junction holding up traffic. Amazingly the policeman just sat in his shelter watching them. Finally the public interfered and stopped them,” shared a third user. 

“Its scary how road rage in this country is rising but you should file a complaint or atleast give details of the incident on their DM. Ur number plate was seen by them if they want they can anyways dig all ur details better take help of cops @BlrCityPolice,” suggested a fourth. 

“Its so scary to see this kind of events happening regularly on the streets of Bengaluru. These goons know well that Police can’t hurt them otherwise they will not dare to touch/harrass anyone. Blr police is helpless here,” expressed one user. 

Bengaluru:

A brief road rage incident involving a scientist with the Indian Space Research Organisation and the driver of a two-wheeler was captured on camera in Bengaluru on Tuesday. The scientist, Aashish Lamba claimed he was abused and that his car was attacked by the driver of the two-wheeler who was “driving recklessly and coming in front of our car suddenly…”

“Yesterday (while) going to ISRO office, near (newly constructed HAL underpass, a person on (a) Scooty (KA03KM8826) without helmet was driving recklessly and coming in front of our car suddenly… we had to brake (suddenly),” Mr Lamba said on X (formerly Twitter).

He also shared videos of the confrontation; a nine-second clip – it seems to be from a dashboard camera – shows a young man shouting in Kannada and making threatening gestures before he kicks the car and drives away.

“He came to our car started fighting. He kick my car two times and flew. Kindly please do the needful,” Mr Lamba said, tagging Bengaluru police and the Karnataka capital’s Police Commissioner.

@blrcitytraffic@CPBlr@BlrCityPolice Yesterday during going to ISRO office,Near to newly constructed HAL underpass, a person on scooty (KA03KM8826) without helmet was driving recklessly and coming in front of our car suddenly and so We had to apply sudden brake. pic.twitter.com/xwDyEy2peA

— Aashish Lamba (@lambashish) August 30, 2023

Bengaluru Police responded, writing, “Noted, we (have) informed (the) concerned police officers.”

There have been a host of angry responses to Mr Lamba’s video, with many calling for a public arrest of the man seen kicking the ISRO scientist’s car.

Bengaluru Scientist “Chased With Sword”

This incident comes a day after reports another scientist claimed he was attacked by a bike-borne gang that shattered the windows of his car and threatened him with swords.

READ | “Chased With Sword”: Bengaluru Scientist Shares Photo Of Attack On Car, Police Take Action

Authorities have confirmed that an ongoing investigation is in progress and have conducted on-site examinations in an effort to locate the suspects.

ISRO In The News

ISRO scientists have made headlines for various reasons – some not so good – since Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander made its historic soft landing on the moon.

READ |Gujarat Man Poses As Scientist Who Designed Chandrayaan-3 Lander, Arrested

Among the not-so-good headiness was news from Gujarat, where a man was arrested after he gave interviews to local media outlets claiming he was the ISRO scientist who designed the lander.

Pragyan Rover Update

Meanwhile, ISRO posted on X today to say the rover had been rotated 360 degrees on the Moon n search of a route that avoids craters and rocks on the lunar surface.

READ |ISRO’s Latest Video On Rover Roaming On Moon Has A “Chandamama” Reference

The rover and Vikram, the lander that carried Pragyan to the Moon, are racing to finish experiments before a lunar night (which lasts 14 Earth days) sets next week.