NewsFirst Exclusive: Alleged traffic police brutality in KR Market sparks outrage, questions abuse of power

Street vendors accuse traffic personnel of assault, intimidation, and excess force; NewsFirst camera presence forces silence

Serious allegations have emerged against traffic police personnel at Bengaluru’s busy KR Market, where street vendors claim they were subjected to harassment, physical assault, and intimidation during enforcement actions. The incident has triggered strong public anger and renewed questions about the limits of police authority and accountability on city streets.

According to vendors, traffic personnel allegedly acted with extreme aggression against poor roadside traders. Eyewitnesses alleged that vendors were beaten with batons, chased away, and humiliated in public view. In one instance, a street vendor who is reportedly a sugar patient was allegedly assaulted with a baton, causing visible injury and distress. Another vendor claimed that tomatoes and other produce were thrown onto the road, resulting in financial loss and public humiliation.

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Vendors further alleged that a traffic staff member struck a person so hard on the leg that blood clotted, raising serious concerns about excessive use of force. The accusations describe a pattern of intimidation rather than lawful enforcement, with vendors questioning who authorised such violent action and why basic human dignity was ignored.

The incident has been described by local traders as a “roll call of harassment” against traffic personnel at KR Market, an area already under economic pressure for small vendors. When NewsFirst attempted to question the concerned traffic staff on camera, they reportedly refrained from responding and moved away after noticing the media presence, further fuelling public suspicion.

Vendors and bystanders have demanded immediate action and an inquiry into the alleged misconduct. They questioned whether traffic police are meant to regulate traffic or act with unchecked authority against the urban poor.