A head constable with the Bhopal police allegedly physically assaulted an employee at an automobile showroom in Bag Sewania on Saturday, sparking widespread condemnation after videos of the incident went viral on social media platforms.
The Dispute Over Scooter Repair Costs
The confrontation began when the police officer arrived at a vehicle showroom located in Narayan Nagar around 4 pm on Saturday to replace a broken brake lever on his scooter. The showroom staff informed him that the replacement would cost Rs 265 if he wanted immediate service.
The head constable became agitated and insisted that since his scooter was covered under "zero depreciation insurance", the brake lever replacement should be completely free of charge. When the service advisor explained that insurance claims typically take around 15 days to process, but he could get immediate service for the nominal fee, the situation quickly escalated.
Violent Assault Captured on Camera
Multiple CCTV recordings and mobile phone videos captured the head constable turning aggressive during the argument. The footage shows him questioning the very purpose of having insurance if he still had to pay for repairs, before launching a physical attack on the service advisor.
What makes the incident more concerning is that when local police arrived at the scene after being informed about the dispute, the head constable stepped outside only to assault the employee a second time. Viral videos clearly show him dragging the employee to the ground and repeatedly kicking him.
Police Inaction During the Incident
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the entire episode was the passive response from other police personnel present at the scene. Multiple videos confirm that several policemen remained as mere observers during the assault, failing to intervene and stop their colleague from attacking the showroom employee.
The videos have been widely circulated across various social media platforms, showing different versions of the argument but all confirming the physical assault by the police officer.
Police Response and Current Status
Bag Sewania SHO Amit Soni has stated that neither party has filed a formal complaint regarding the incident. However, police authorities have taken note of the viral videos and have begun verification proceedings.
"If either party submits a complaint, appropriate action will be taken based on the evidence," SHO Soni stated, indicating that the police department is aware of the situation but awaiting formal proceedings to initiate action.
The incident has raised serious questions about police conduct and accountability, particularly when multiple officers witnessed the assault but chose not to intervene, potentially violating their duty to protect citizens regardless of the perpetrator's identity.
