Kolkata, 2 September (H.S.): Kolkata Police on Tuesday registered a case against an Indian Army truck driver for alleged rash and negligent driving after the vehicle reportedly came close to colliding with the convoy car of Police Commissioner Manoj Verma.

The incident occurred outside the iconic Writers’ Building at B.B.D. Bagh, near Lalbazar—the city police headquarters. According to police, the Army truck was coming out of Fort William, the Eastern Command headquarters, and attempted to take a prohibited right turn in a dangerous manner. At that moment, the Commissioner’s vehicle approached, but a major accident was averted due to timely alertness.

Traffic police intercepted the truck and took it to Hare Street Police Station, where a case was registered under Section 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for endangering lives by negligent driving.

To counter what it described as “misleading narratives” circulating about the incident, Kolkata Police released CCTV footage on its official X (formerly Twitter) account. The post stated: “Certain sections are spreading false claims about the incident. The video clearly shows the truck being driven recklessly, narrowly avoiding a collision with another vehicle.”

The police have urged the public not to fall prey to unverified information and to rely only on official updates.

The episode comes against the backdrop of political tension, just a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP-led central government of “misusing the Army.” She alleged that Army personnel dismantled a protest stage set up by the Trinamool Congress near the Gandhi statue on the Maidan. According to her, the operation was halted when she personally reached the site.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh