A traffic policeman was allegedly slapped several times by a young biker and the pillion rider when the cop tried to stop their friend's motorcycle for allegedly hitting a pedestrian near Eco Park on Thursday morning.
The two motorcycles, which were allegedly speeding, were headed towards City Centre II from the Kolkata Gate and jumped a red signal near Eco Park's gate number 1 around 7.30am, an officer of the Bidhannagar commissionerate said.
When the signal turned green for pedestrians and a group started crossing the Major Arterial Road (MAR) in New Town, the first bike moved over a man's foot, the officer said.
Seeing this, traffic constable Goutam Karmakar, who was a little ahead of the signal, tried to stop the bike, but the rider swerved past him and sped off.
“Seconds later, the second bike screeched to a halt and the rider and the pillion rider, a woman, verbally abused Karmakar and then slapped him," the officer said.
“We received a call for help from Karmakar and a police patrol team was dispatched. Karmakar and some pedestrians had managed to detain the rider. The pillion rider fled," the officer said.
The police identified the biker as Souvik Roy, 20, a resident of Baguiati.
Roy was arrested and produced in a Barasat court. He has been remanded in judicial custody till November 26.
An officer who scanned CCTV footage said: "Some bikes, including Roy's, were being driven at high speeds, over 80kmph. They jumped nearly all the red signals on the MAR and were moving dangerously, zig-zagging throughout."
Bikers racing in New Town are a common sight late at night and early in the morning, residents said. There have been multiple fatal accidents involving such bikers.
The police and the New Town Kolkata Development Authority have placed boards along roads asking motorists not to race and to move at moderate speeds.