Shillong, Aug 29: Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills District, Abhilash Baranwal, on Tuesday expressed regrets over the misinformation in relation to a viral video about the incident which occurred at Wahiajer along the National Highway-6.

The video had alleged the deputy commissioner of abusing his power against a driver of a pickup vehicle.

In his statement, Baranwal said, “The driver of the aforementioned vehicle was later subjected to medical test in which it was conclusively proven that he was in an inebriated state and unfit to drive at that moment. The matter is regrettable and such negative and unverified videos would cast aspersions on actions which were otherwise taken for the safety and greater good of others who were also travelling on the route.”

The deputy commissioner was proceeding towards Lumshnong to attend the Annual Day Celebration at Divine Words Secondary School, Lumshnong and 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 of the said block when the incident took place.

A massive traffic jam was encountered on the NH6 from Thangskai till Wahiajer due to a multiple breakdown of vehicles at various places.

The deputy commissioner said the driver of his vehicle signalled to nudge the traffic ahead but was met with abuses by the driver of the vehicle in front (ML 11 4554, Mahindra Camper Pick up). This incident was ignored.

“However, despite the intermittent forward movement in traffic and repeated signals by my driver to allow my vehicle to move ahead, the aforementioned vehicle refused to give way. Since the Personal Security Officer attached with the undersigned was still clearing traffic ahead, the undersigned approached the driver to request him to make way. It was then realized that the driver of the vehicle was in an inebriated state and was accordingly instructed to move the vehicle aside. However, this request by the undersigned was met with verbal abuse and aggression. 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,” he said.

Baranwal said, “The Personal Security Officer, upon his return to the spot and seeing aggression, verbal abuse and physical resistance from the driver concerned, intervened to protect me as he is duty bound to and had to use minor force on the errant driver to physically disengage me from the driver.”

The DC said he and his 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 to prevent further movement of my vehicle. It was only with the intervention of the local police that my vehicle was allowed to proceed,” he said.

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