NEW DELHI: As Bihar gears up for the upcoming elections, the state is tightening its security and monitoring activities across towns. But amid the heightened vigilance, a disturbing incident in Barsoi has stirred public anger and raised questions about police conduct.According to the now viral video footage, a police officer allegedly misbehaved with a man and a woman at a restaurant in Barsoi, Katihar district. The man, Yash Agrawal, shared the CCTV clip on social media, claiming he and his sister were unfairly harassed under the pretext of a routine election-time check.
The video shows the officer questioning diners about their names and addresses, reportedly after receiving information about “anti-social elements” at the restaurant. When the officer asked Yash about the woman accompanying him, he can be heard replying, “Behen hai meri (she is my sister).” However, the situation quickly escalates after the officer, visibly irritated, begins speaking in an aggressive tone.What followed was a tense verbal exchange lasting over four minutes, with the woman eventually recording the confrontation on her phone. A second officer joined in, but instead of pacifying the situation, appeared to side with his colleague, further fueling the argument.Sharing the clip online, Agrawal wrote, “This incident occured yesterday night when we went for family dinner in barsoi bihar which falls under katihar dist. So we cant even take our sister for family dinner if its election time in bihar?”The video spread rapidly across social media, drawing criticism of the police’s behavior and sparking discussions about accountability during election season. Responding to the uproar, Katihar Police said that on October 24, routine checks were being conducted across hotels and lodges in preparation for the Assembly polls. The Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Katihar, has ordered an inquiry into the incident.While Bihar intensifies its pre-election security to curb unlawful activity, incidents like these serve as reminders of the fragile balance between vigilance and overreach.
