'Got angry, abused me': Ahmedabad cop suspended for slapping woman during traffic stop; both file complaints

AHMEDABAD: An Ahmedabad policeman was suspended for allegedly slapping a woman after getting into an argument with her over the violation of traffic rules. The traffic cop and the woman later made claims and counterclaims over the handling of the cop's ID card, the falling of which led to the alleged assault.

"Head constable Jayantibhai Zala was suspended after he hit a woman for allegedly dropping his ID card," said DCP (Traffic West) Bhavana Patel.


The head constable, on the other hand, lodged a complaint with the N Traffic Division against the woman for obstructing a police officer in the discharge of his duty, rash driving, abusing, and criminal intimidation.

The episode occurred on Friday when the woman was riding a two-wheeler — allegedly without a helmet — on the wrong side of the road in Paldi.

Zala stopped her for the alleged violation, said officers. Several videos have gone viral in which Zala is seen hitting the woman and even trying to attack her with a stick. However, other cops lead him away.

In interviews with the media, the woman claimed that the cop was impatient in asking her to show her driving licence.

"Later, I asked the cop to show his ID card. He gave it to me and while I was handing it back to him, the ID card fell," the woman said. "The cop got angry and abused me."

She claimed to have received injuries to an eye and ear. She also alleged that when she tried to file a complaint against the cop, only an application of complaint was taken.

The woman went to the police station again to file an FIR.

Meanwhile, the traffic cop's complaint filed with the N Division traffic police station alleged that the woman demanded to see his identity card which she later "threw at the cop's face".

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, the woman also alleged that the constable first grabbed her hand during the argument. "When I questioned him about touching me, he slapped me hard on the face, causing minor bleeding," she said. "Even if he is a police officer, he has no right to assault me."

Jignesh Mevani, the Vadgam MLA, said on X, "Seeing the Ahmedabad police behave like this with women makes one's blood boil! A Gujarati sister asks a police officer for his ID card."

He said, "The ID slipped from her hand and fell to the road. And this becomes her ‘crime'!...This policeman has taken the law into his own hands!...Justice must be done and done now!"

However, soon after the video of the cop assaulting the woman went viral, several videos — purportedly showing the full sequence of events — surfaced in which the woman is seen jumping a signal.

In another clip supposedly showing elements missing from the video of the cop attacking the woman, she is seen alleging that she was stopped because she is a woman.

Later she says in this video, "Why did you touch me?" and begins abusing the cops, after which one of the cops assaults her.

Another video of Nov 14 from Shyamal Crossroads shows the woman involved in a heated argument with cops. She claims that the cops asked her for Rs 500 for not issuing the challan.

DCP Patel said that the police have been informed of various videos involving the woman. "Once we receive the videos, we will verify them and initiate further action," Patel said.



Get an chance to win ₹5000 Amazon Voucher by taking part in India's Biggest Habit Index! Take the survey here