A woman doctor in Darbhanga has accused a Station House Officer of misconduct, verbal abuse and intimidation following what she described as a minor traffic mistake. The incident, captured on video and widely shared online, has triggered public concern and prompted a police inquiry.
According to the doctor, she was returning from Patna when her car accidentally entered a one way stretch near VIP Road between Karpuri Chowk and Benta Chowk. She said she and her driver were unfamiliar with the area and were relying on Google Maps, which led to the navigation error.
What she expected to be a routine fine quickly escalated. The doctor alleged that the SHO of Benta Police Station reacted aggressively, used abusive language and struck the car window with his firearm. She further claimed the officer pressed the weapon against the driver’s neck and forced him out of the vehicle. The experience, she said, left her feeling unsafe and shaken.
A video of the confrontation later surfaced on social media. In the footage, the officer can be heard shouting at the doctor and her driver. The doctor maintained that while she accepted responsibility for the traffic violation, Traffic police officials should have followed standard procedure and issued a fine rather than resorting to threats and verbal abuse. She insisted that a minor road mistake did not justify such treatment.
The SHO, Harendra Kumar, provided a sharply different account. He stated that the vehicle violated the one way rule and attempted to flee when officers tried to stop it. According to Kumar, the driver suddenly accelerated and nearly hit him and a constable before the car was brought under control.
Kumar admitted that he lost his temper and used some abusive words, which he said he accepts. However, he denied threatening or mistreating the doctor. He alleged that the driver tried to run him over intentionally during the first encounter. The officer said police eventually stopped the vehicle, issued a fine and released it.
Senior Superintendent of Police Jagunath Reddy Jalarreddy confirmed that authorities would examine the viral video as part of an official inquiry. He stated that strict action would follow if investigators found any officer guilty of misconduct.
(Rh/ARC)
