Bhubaneswar, April 7: The Lingaraj police last evening arrested a builder for misbehaving with a home guard, who was on traffic duty at the Rabi Talkies Square.

The builder was let off today by the police on personal bond. Sources said the accused was the co-producer of an Oriya film in 1992 in which he had also acted.

Sources said builder Manoj Dwibedi was going towards Vivekanand Marg when the home guard, Arun Kumar Parida, stopped his car to let an ambulance pass. This made Dwibedi angry and he vented ire on the home guard and even abused him.

The Lingaraj police reached the spot and arrested him. “He was let off in the morning after his brother stood surety for him,” said a police officer.

This is not the first case of a traffic cop on duty being misbehaved with. Earlier, the Nayapalli police had filed an FIR against a youth for assaulting a woman traffic constable at Kalinga Stadium Square. Police seized the vehicle and a hunt for the accused is on. On March 13 last year, Vignaraj Nayak was arrested for assaulting traffic police S. Lakra at Nicco Park Square. Nayak’s car was also seized.

In another such incident nearly a year ago, a youth from Baramunda village assaulted a traffic police at Siripur Square under Khandagiri police station. The police constable had to be hospitalised.

Common people also agree that traffic policemen do have to face such problems. “I have seen people arguing with the traffic policemen. People should follow traffic norms,” said Ratikant Sahu, a teacher.

Shortage of cops often helps offenders. However, things may improve with nearly 150 cops likely to join traffic duty in the city. Deputy commissioner of police Himanshu Lal said they had been taking steps against the offenders.