Kolkata Police files FIR against army truck driver, says “misinformation being spread” over controversy

The controversy surrounding the stopping of an army truck in Kolkata has taken a new turn with the city police filing a formal First Information Report (FIR) against the driver. The incident, which unfolded on Tuesday morning, has now escalated from a traffic violation dispute to a legal matter. The Kolkata Police has also released CCTV footage of the event and issued a public statement on social media, aiming to counter what it calls "misinformation" being circulated about the incident.

The police action came after the traffic control team stopped the army truck on the road in front of the Writers' Building. A complaint was filed by a traffic sergeant, leading to a case being registered at the Hare Street Police Station under Section 281 BNS. This firm legal move indicates that the police are not treating the incident as a minor misunderstanding but as a serious violation of traffic rules.

In its official tweet, the Kolkata Police stated that the decision to stop the vehicle was based on clear evidence of dangerous driving. The statement mentioned, "It's apparently clear from the CCTV footage that the truck in question was being driven dangerously, violating the traffic lane." The police also noted that another vehicle narrowly avoided a collision thanks to the alertness of its driver, highlighting the potential for a major accident.

The police have advised the public to rely on authentic updates from official sources and not be misled by unverified claims. This public communication strategy is a direct response to the conflicting accounts that emerged immediately after the incident, including the army's initial claim that the truck was moving slowly and that there was no dangerous maneuver. The release of the video footage is intended to provide visual proof of the police's version of events.

According to reports, the official vehicle of Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma was directly behind the army truck when the incident occurred. This detail, although not explicitly mentioned in the official police statement, adds a significant layer to the event, with some sources suggesting that the truck's alleged reckless maneuver could have endangered the Commissioner's convoy.