Bihar: Action likely against Araria agriculture officer for misbehaving with chowkidar on duty

PATNA: Araria district agriculture officer (DAO) Manoj Kumar has been served a show-cause notice for misbehaving with a police’s chowkidar who had stopped him on Monday and asked to show his vehicle pass. The incident raised a storm in police circles on Tuesday after its video went viral on social media, prompting state agriculture minister Prem Kumar to issue directive that why action should not be taken against the DAO.
Director general of police (DGP) Gupteshwar Pandey took the incident seriously and brought it to the notice of chief secretary Deepak Kumar. “I have already conveyed the message to the government through proper channel,” Pandey said, adding that he had sought a detailed report from Araria SP on the incident.
The minister said he has asked the incharge of Purnia division of the department to also conduct a detailed investigation into the matter.
Expressing concern over the DAO’s “misconduct”, the minister said, “The chowkidar was on duty to enforce the nationwide lockdown to check Covid-19 spread. Such an incident must be condemned.” He said further action would be taken against the officer on the inquiry report.
Manoj was stopped by chowkidar Ganesh Lal Tatma near Surjapul under Bairgachhi police outpost in Araria district when he was on way to attend a meeting on Monday. Infuriated over his audacity, the DAO asked a senior police officer of the area to punish him. Subsequently, Ganesh was humiliated in full public view and made to do sit-ups holding his ears. Later, he was forced to tender an apology with head down in the feet of the DAO, who didn’t stop there. “I am in a hurry because I have to attend a videoconferencing. Otherwise, I would have sent you to jail,” the DAO is heard telling Ganesh in the video.
TOI does not authenticate the video. When contacted, Araria SP Dhurat Sayli Sablaram said, “I have asked Araria sub-divisional police officer to inquire into the incident and report.”
Araria SDPO Pushkar Kumar said such an incident would demoralize the frontline workforce engaged in enforcing the lockdown. He, however, parried questions on sub-inspector Govind Singh, who is heard in the video rebuking the chowkidar.
Sources said the SDPO initially tried to downplay the incident due to the DAO’s connections in the corridors of power. Bairgachhi police station SHO Harendra Kumar also attempted to shield the DAO.
“The chowkidar himself started doing sit-ups to tender his apology after he came to know about the officer’s identity,” the SHO said. In the video, a police officer is heard telling the chowkidar, “You have stopped the DAO but this is an insult to me as I am incharge of this checkpost.”
Meanwhile, a senior IAS officer said the DAO is likely to be suspended and face departmental proceedings. Earlier, DGP Pandey said he wouldn’t tolerate humiliation of any of the policemen. “They all are doing their commendable job even at the risk of their lives,” he added.