A public altercation between traffic police personnel at Chennai's iconic Marina beach, captured in a now-viral video, has led to strict disciplinary action. The incident has resulted in the suspension of two constables and another being placed on administrative reserve.
Disciplinary Action Taken Following Altercation
Deputy Commissioner of Traffic (East) S Megalina Iden has issued suspension orders against constables Raghavan and Leo. Additionally, head constable Shanmugasundaram, who is attached to the Triplicane traffic wing, has been placed on vacancy reserve (VR), a form of administrative hold.
The Incident That Sparked the Conflict
The confrontation unfolded two days ago when Head Constable Shanmugasundaram was conducting routine vehicle checks at Marina beach. During the check, he imposed a fine of ₹2,000 on a motorcyclist for not possessing valid vehicle insurance documents.
The situation escalated when Constable Raghavan, who was off-duty and not in uniform, arrived at the spot along with Constable Leo. They questioned Shanmugasundaram's authority to levy a fine for an insurance violation without the presence of an inspector or sub-inspector rank officer. This disagreement quickly turned into a heated argument.
Argument Escalates to Physical Confrontation
What began as a verbal dispute soon descended into a physical scuffle, which was recorded by bystanders on their mobile phones. The video clip spread rapidly across social media platforms, drawing significant public attention and scrutiny towards the conduct of the police personnel involved.
The swift administrative action highlights the department's low tolerance for behavior that tarnishes its public image and violates service conduct rules. Such incidents involving on-duty and off-duty personnel clashing in public spaces raise serious concerns about discipline and protocol within the force.
The Chennai City Traffic Police have demonstrated a firm stance by taking immediate action, aiming to control the damage to public trust caused by the viral video. The incident serves as a reminder of the expected professional conduct from law enforcement officers, regardless of the circumstances.
