TRUCK DRIVERS ASSAULTED

TRUCK DRIVERS ASSAULTED

21-JULY-ENG 10

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-------------------------A shameful incident occurring on Monday morning at Raja Bazar, within the jurisdiction of the Bihiya police station in Bhojpur district, has raised serious questions regarding local policing and security arrangements. Here, unidentified miscreants not only brutally assaulted truck drivers but also snatched cash from them. The most concerning aspect of the entire incident was that, despite the victims repeatedly pleading for help via the Dial-112 emergency service, the police failed to reach the scene in time.

According to reports, Guddu Yadav, a truck driver from Rajasthan, had arrived with his colleagues to deliver goods to various trading companies in Bihiya. On Monday morning, while the drivers were asleep in their trucks, a group of aggressive individuals arriving in a four-wheeler attacked them. The victims allege that the attackers beat them severely and snatched approximately ₹22,000 from them. Victims Shivam Yadav and Deepak Kumar stated that when they attempted to defend themselves, they too were targeted.

Following the incident, the victims lodged a written complaint at the Bihiya police station against the unidentified miscreants, demanding strict action. Local eyewitnesses stated that the dispute stemmed from a minor incident—a verbal altercation that began after a roadside-parked truck and a four-wheeler grazed each other. However, this trivial dispute rapidly escalated into violence.

There is immense outrage among local residents and the victims following the incident. People believe that had the police acted promptly after the Dial-112 call and arrived at the scene, the truck drivers could have been saved from the assault, and the miscreants could have been caught red-handed. This delay by the police has exposed the hollowness of security claims.

Furthermore, when an attempt was made to contact the Bihiya Station House Officer (SHO), Sudeshwar Kumar Das, on his official mobile number, he repeatedly disconnected the call instead of answering it. Such an attitude from officials holding responsible positions breeds fear and mistrust among ordinary citizens.

For now, the police—who arrived long after the incident—say they are investigating the matter; however, the question remains: why was there such a major lapse in ensuring the safety of the common man, despite the existence of emergency services? Is the sluggish functioning of the police not emboldening criminals?