Vice-Chairman of Latehar 20-Point Programme Rajdhani Yadav was arrested and sent to judicial custody in Latehar on Tuesday after assaulting Latehar District Transport Officer F Barla, said SP Latehar Parshant Anand.
Anand said, “DTO Latehar has lodged a written complaint at Latehar Police Station and police immediately swung into action and arrested Yadav and remanded him in judicial custody.” A case under Prevention of Atrocities against SC/ST has also been lodged against Yadav. Anand said, “Such aberration by anyone with government official on duty would not be brooked and law would take its course.”
Sources said a four wheeler bearing the name plate of Yadav was parked near the office of SP Latehar when DTO Barla reached near the vehicle and right in his presence a youth started removing the name plate of Yadav who came rushing from behind and began to beat up DTO who was caught unawares. Sources said Yadav was asking the DTO if he had issued any notice to him to remove the name plate. Yadav even reminded this government official that he was the ‘malik’ of the officer.
The DTO too reacted to save further blows from the hands of Yadav. Sources said this is the first episode of its kind in Latehar when a government official has been so beaten up by an elected people representative.
Sources said the DTO ought to have given notice to Yadav first to get the name plate removed as per the provision. A few passersby there filmed the scene in their cell phone and made it viral.