From Our Correspondent
KHLIEHRIAT, Aug 29: A commotion erupted on the heavily congested National Highway 6 near Lumshnong in East Jaintia Hills after Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal’s personal security officer (PSO) assaulted a driver resulting in facial injury to the latter.
Videos of the ensuing ruckus have gone viral on social media.
The DC’s office, later, issued a statement narrating the incident in details.
The statement said the DC was proceeding towards Lumshnong to attend a function at Divine Words Secondary School, Lumshnong, and also to chair a meeting with the Project Director, DRDA, East Jaintia Hills District, Block Development Officer, Lumshnong C&RD Block, all the Gram Sevaks and BTAs.
“A massive traffic jam was encountered on NH-6 from Thangskai till Wahiajer due to multiple break down of vehicles at various places. The driver of the official vehicle signalled to nudge the traffic ahead but was met with abuses by the driver of a pick-up vehicle (ML11 4554).
“This incident was ignored. However, despite the intermittent forward movement in traffic and repeated signals by the driver to allow my vehicle to move ahead, the vehicle refused to give way. Since the PSO was still clearing traffic ahead, the DC approached the driver to request him to make way.
“As the driver of the vehicle was in an inebriated state he was instructed to move the vehicle aside,” the statement said. However, this request by the DC was met with verbal abuse and aggression, the statement said.
“Thereafter, an attempt was made to remove the ignition keys of the vehicle to prevent him from driving further and this was physically resisted by the driver. The PSO, on seeing aggression, verbal abuse and physical resistance from the driver concerned, intervened to protect the DC and had to use minor force on the errant driver.”
“The DC and the PSO were then accosted by a group of unknown persons using unacceptable language despite repeated attempts made to give clarity about the incident. They not only continued with their tirade, but also tried preventing further movement of the official vehicle.”
“It was only with the intervention of the local police that the vehicle was allowed to proceed. The errant driver was later subjected to medical test which confirmed that he was in an inebriated state and unfit to drive,” the statement added.