Helmetless bikers thrash 3 policemen

Kolkata: A traffic sergeant suffered a fractured finger and two other police personnel were injured after three helmetless bikers allegedly assaulted cops who tried to stop them on Patuli flyover on Saturday night — the second such attack on Kolkata Police personnel during an anti-helmet drive in a week. Patuli police have arrested one of the accused, Abdul Asif, an app-bike rider. A search is on for his two associates from Narendrapur, who fled the spot.According to police, sergeant Sudipta Maitra of Garia Traffic Guard was conducting a routine check on the flyover when he spotted three youths riding triple-seat from the Kamalgazi end without helmets. Police placed a guard rail across the road to stop them.Though forced to halt, the trio allegedly refused to get off the bike and began arguing aggressively with the cops over being stopped. When Maitra informed them that they would be prosecuted for violating helmet rules, one of the youths allegedly got off the bike, assaulted the sergeant and tried to snatch his mobile phone.A constable and a civic volunteer who rushed to help Maitra were also assaulted during the scuffle. Amid the chaos, two of the accused escaped on the bike, while Abdul was caught at the spot and handed over to Patuli police station.An X-ray later confirmed that Maitra had suffered a fractured finger. Police have registered cases of assault on public servants and obstruction of duty. Officers said raids are underway to trace the two absconding accused.