Malda traffic police arrested two brothers after an assistant sub-inspector was allegedly punched during a helmet-checking drive on the stretch between Naogama and Pukhuria on Wednesday evening. Police said the officer suffered a bleeding nose, while his body camera and the machine used to collect traffic fines were damaged during the confrontation.
The incident took place under Pukhuria police station limits. The arrested men were identified by police sources as Masidur Rahaman and his brother Safikul Rahman, both residents of Paranpur village in Pukhuria and in their late 20s. Police said Masidur serves as an “Agniveer” in the army.
According to the report, the brothers were travelling on a motorcycle without helmets when Ajmal Hossain, an assistant sub-inspector posted in the traffic department, intercepted them. When the officer asked them to produce their driving licence, Masidur allegedly punched him on the nose. Safikul allegedly abused police personnel at the spot.
Hossain lodged a complaint with the police after the confrontation. He was taken to a local hospital, where he received three stitches for the injury to his nose, according to the report.
Malda superintendent of police Anupam Singh said the bikers had violated traffic rules and became involved in an argument while photographs were being taken. “Two bikers violated traffic rules. When photographs were being taken, they argued with the officer, punched him, and broke his camera. We have arrested both, and cases have been registered for assault, obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty, and damaging government property,” Singh said.
The police said cases were registered in connection with the alleged assault, obstruction of a public servant while carrying out official duties and damage to government property. The reported damage included the officer’s body camera and the point-of-sale machine used for collecting traffic fines.
The incident highlights the operational risks faced by traffic personnel during roadside enforcement, where officers rely on body cameras and digital payment equipment to document violations and process penalties. Damage to such devices can also disrupt the recording and collection processes during a traffic check.
Singh said the police had informed Masidur’s army superiors about his arrest. The report did not specify the sections of law applied in the case or the next date of production before a court. Police action and the legal process will determine the allegations against the arrested men.
