Police Book 14 for Celebrating Birthday on Guwahati Bridge
Assam Police on Tuesday registered a case against a local businessman, his wife, and 12 others for endangering public safety and creating a nuisance by celebrating her birthday on the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu bridge over the Brahmaputra river in Guwahati, an officer said.
Video Footage Leads to Case
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Guwahati, Jayanta Sarathi Borah, stated that the case was registered at the Bharalumukh police station based on a video widely circulated on social media on Monday. The video showed the birthday celebration of the businessman's wife on a section of the six-lane bridge during the intervening night of June 21 and 22.
A red carpet was laid out with balloons completing the decoration as the woman cut her birthday cake, flanked by her husband and others. The bridge, built at a cost of around Rs 3,030 crore, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14 and has been a major tourist draw for its majestic view of the Brahmaputra.
Vehicles Seized, Summons Issued
Borah said, "We saw the video footage on social media yesterday evening about the birthday celebration on the bridge. We verified it and traced the owner of the vehicle, and we have called him in." He added, "As per our report, it was his wife's 42nd birthday, and they celebrated it on the bridge with cake, red carpet, balloons, etc., as seen from the video."
The businessman's SUV and three other vehicles used by those booked have been seized. "There were a total of 14 people, including the businessman and his wife, and all have been summoned for interrogation," Borah said.
Charges Under BNS
A case has been registered against them under BNS Sections 285 (causing danger, obstruction or injury to others on a public road), 270 (creating public nuisance), and 125 (acting rashly, endangering human life or safety of others).
"Investigation is on in the matter. The businessman claimed that it was just for about five minutes, but it doesn't seem to be so. Whether the celebration was pre-planned or impromptu, we are looking into that also," the DCP said. "We will take action as per procedure," the officer said, while also urging the public to exercise civic sense in their behaviour.
