Dalit cop in Jharkhand alleges he was slapped, abused by former Congress minister over failing to clear traffic jam

Former Jharkhand minister Krishna Nand Tripathi (Image: Facebook)

In Jharkhand, a Dalit police constable has levelled serious allegations against former minister and Congress leader Krishna Nand Tripathi. The constable, assigned to Tripathi's personal security, alleges that the former minister slapped him and verbally abused him with casteist slurs.

The incident reportedly happened after the minister’s vehicle got stuck in a traffic jam.

According to a report by The Indian Express, a zero FIR has been registered at Nagar police station in Daltonganj upon the complaint. The report revealed that the incident took place as the former minister’s car was passing through Latehar.

Constable Ravindra Rikhiyashan, who levelled these allegations, was allegedly asked to get off and clear the road.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Rikhiyashan revealed that there were traffic jams due to the Karam festival.

“As we tried to manage the situation, Neta ji arrived and began hurling abuses,” he said, adding that he was referred to as “adivasi” and a “harijan” and told he was not fit for the job.

Rikhiyashan also claimed that Tripathi slapped him at that time.

However, Tripathi, the former minister of rural development, labour, employment and training, and panchayati raj, denied these charges, saying the FIR against him was filed out of revenge.

“I only asked my bodyguards to be more alert, got the passage cleared, and then left for the Circuit House. I did not assault or abuse anyone. Everything is visible in the CCTV,” he was quoted as saying by the publication.

“When they (the body guards) refused to move the vehicle, and I managed to get it cleared within a minute, they felt insulted. That is why they registered the FIR.”

Daltonganj town police station officer-in-charge Jyoti Lal Rajwar said that sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, have been invoked.