Unaware IGP Traffic Basant Rath unknowingly tarnishes J&K Police image

Bilal Bashir Bhat
Srinagar, Mar 22 (KNB): The incumbent Inspector General of Police (Traffic) Basant Rath on Thursday turned red-faced after he unknowingly posted a photo on social media showing a police vehicle towing by the Traffic police crane Police with a caption “equality before Law ladies and gentlemen,” though the photo evoked a good response from netizens, however, later it turns a hoax after Police clarified that the Vehicle was towed by Traffic department on request of a local police station.
According to Kashmir News Bureau (KNB) online monitoring desk, the Basant Rath known for his positive ‘rowdyism’ against the traffic rule violators posted a picture on his Facebook profile which shows traffic police towing a vehicle belonging to Police Station Kothi Bagh thus depicts the violation of traffic rules by the police itself.
The netizens including the MLA Langate Engineer Rashid spared no time to hail the Basant Rath for the action carried by latter’s department. The picture got viral on Social media amid appreciations from all corners.



However, soon after the Basant Rath’s domination on social media the Kothi Bagh Police termed the photo a mere hoax said traffic police did not lift any of their vehicles instead they had requested the said department to arrange a crane for a vehicle after it developed some technical snag.
Speaking to KNB, SHO Kothi Bagh said that police has not violated any norms or rules, but had requested the Traffic Police to tow the vehicle towards car garage for service following it developed some technical snag.
Meanwhile accepting its mistake the red-faced Basant Rath tweeted, “Friends, this was a mistake. My mistake. I should have verified the information that was fed to me. The police station vehicle was not challaned. And I’m not going to delete any of my tweets or Facebook status updates. I’m accountable. I’ll always be accountable.”
Notably, a netizen on Facebook said that law is above all, J&K police should also file an FIR against Basant Rath for tarnishing its image. (KNB)