Nongpoh, Dec 14: An incident was reported to have occurred on December 11 shortly after 1pm on the Shillong–Guwahati highway while vehicles were travelling towards Guwahati.
According to allegations made on a Facebook page, Senapati Today, Ri-Bhoi Superintendent of Police VS Rathore, was travelling towards Guwahati in his vehicle, accompanied by a pilot car and a rear escort vehicle. It is claimed that after crossing Nongpoh market, two civilian vehicles overtook the convoy, following which both vehicles were detained at Nongpoh Police Station for nearly three hours.
The first vehicle reportedly carried a Bengali couple along with their child, who were en route to Guwahati airport, while the second vehicle, a Thar, was occupied by three passengers. The occupants have alleged that no immediate challan was issued at the time of detention and that no clear reason was communicated to them. As a result of the detention, the family travelling to the airport reportedly missed their scheduled flight.
The affected persons have alleged that there was no reckless driving or over-speeding on their part and have described the incident as harassment and an abuse of authority. They further stated that overtaking on a four-lane highway is a normal traffic manoeuvre, particularly when a vehicle ahead is travelling at a slower speed.
However, in their own Facebook page, Ri Bhoi Police stated that the drivers of both vehicles were driving recklessly on the National Highway and were at risk of hitting other road users in the busy Nongpoh market area. The police clarified that both vehicles were stopped and taken to the local police station for verification, following which e-challans were issued promptly.
The police further stated that the action was taken strictly in the interest of road safety, asserting that enforcement measures are non-negotiable and aimed at safeguarding lives, without any personal bias or ego.
