To protest the towing away of her car while she was still in it, breastfeeding her son, a womon went live on Facebook on Friday. The incident took place on SV Road in Malad and the video went viral on social media, sparking public outrage and resulting in the suspension of the police constable who towed away the car. An internal inquiry has been initiated into the matter.
Jyoti Mali, who has acted in a few south Indian films and lives in Malad, had gone to a hospital with her husband Jairaj and their seven-month-old son Yuvraj. They parked their car on SV road. As traffic constable Shashank Rane began to tow it away, the family entered the vehicle and pleaded with him to stop as their son was ill and Jyoti wanted to nurse the baby.
The video shows Jairaj confronting the police constable for not wearing a name badge on his uniform.
Meanwhile Rane chats away nonchalantly on phone, ignoring Jairaj's questions. "We asked the constable to fine us and not tow the vehicle, but he did not budge," said Jairaj.
"When the constable did not listen to our pleas, we decided to go live on Facebook."
"I was sitting in the backseat of the car, and breastfeeding my son while the traffic constable instructed the towing van driver to drive on," Jyoti told DNA. "We later paid the fine at the police chowky."
The Mumbai traffic police department later suspended the traffic constable for risking the life of the woman and her baby. Amtesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said, "We have initiated an internal probe into the matter and have suspended the constable. The inquiry is pending."
