GURGAON: Even as Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal ’s stand refusing personal security catches the nation’s imagination, neighbouring Haryana remains so steeped in VIP culture that cops apparently find it unsafe to have even a rickshaw-puller cross the CM’s path.

On Sunday, a traffic cop badly beat up rickshaw-puller Sanjay Sahu (40), who unwittingly entered a road that had been cordoned off for chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda ’s cavalcade in Gurgaon. Hit on the head with a lathi, Sahu passed out on the spot. He was taken to hospital by AAP volunteers , where doctors administered several stitches on a deep gash near his eye.

"This is a clear case of political high handedness and police brutality. We will fight to get compensation for Sahu. The CM must apologize for what happened and the cop should be punished," said Sagar Yadav, an AAP member.

Dr Anil Gupta from the civil hospital, who attended on Sahu, said the wound near the victim’s eye needed immediate stitching. "Sahu’s face was considerably swollen. We have advised him complete rest for a day. Thankfully, he doesn’t have any serious head injury," he said.

The hospital authorities informed the sector 5 police about the incident after which an investigation was begun. But no FIR had been filed so far.

Around 2.30pm, traffic had been stopped at Sector 4/7 Chowk and New Railway Road for Hooda to pass through. Sahu rode into the crossing, unaware of the VIP movement. He was immediately thrashed by ASI Ram Niwas. When Sahu collapsed, he was lifted and taken aside by locals as Hooda’s cavalcade passed through.

Later, the accused ASI said he had "no intention" of hitting the rickshaw-puller. "I was only doing my duty, managing traffic for the VIP movement. Minutes before the CM’s arrival, a rickshaw entered the reserved lane. I was trying to clear the lane and accidentally hit the man," he said.

A senior police officer said a departmental probe was on and action would be taken against the cop if he was found guilty.