Disabled in Terror Encounter, Ex-Army Officer Alleges Harassment by Gurugram Traffic Police
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
Retired Army officer Major Hemendra Singh has alleged that Gurugram Traffic Police misbehaved with him and his family during a routine vehicle check. Singh claimed an initial breathalyser test showed an unusually high alcohol reading because the device's nozzle had not been changed.
By Pranjal Gupta
New Delhi, June 9: While returning home after a family dinner, retired Major Hemendra Singh was stopped by the Gurugram Traffic Police during a routine vehicle check. Singh, who was travelling with his wife and two daughters, alleged that police personnel misbehaved with the family and kept them waiting for nearly one-and-a-half hours despite him clearing the breathalyser test twice.
A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media, with many users criticising the traffic police for their alleged treatment of the "war hero".
Major Hemendra Singh said he had served in anti-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir and retired from the Army in 2007 on medical grounds after sustaining a disability. He has since been working in the corporate sector, reported news agency PTI.
According to Singh, traffic police officers stopped his vehicle and administered a breathalyser test. He alleged that the officials used the same device on him immediately after testing another driver and did not replace the straw or nozzle before conducting his test.
The initial reading reportedly showed 91 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, significantly above the permissible limit. Singh disputed the result and claimed that the device may have produced an inaccurate reading because the nozzle had not been changed.
He further alleged that when he questioned the reading, some officers became aggressive and began preparing a challan.
After repeated requests, the police agreed to conduct another test. According to Singh, a fresh nozzle was used this time and the reading came down to 13 mg/100 ml, which is within the permissible limit.
"However, when re-pressurised and re-tested twice with a new nozzle, the truth came out. Both times, the alcohol reading was only 13 mg/100 ml, which was completely within the legally normal and safe limit," Singh said in his complaint.
Singh said he subsequently called the police emergency helpline, 112, to report the matter. He alleged that after learning about the complaint, the officers involved left the spot in their vehicle.
Social Media Outrage
A video purportedly recorded at the scene is now circulating widely on social media, where users have expressed anger over the alleged conduct of the traffic police personnel.
"What you have done for the country does not matter. Corrupt police officers just want money; they don't care that you became disabled while fighting for the country. Major Hemendra Sahib, this is the system, while protecting which we are getting shot every day. The news will circulate in the media; your daughter's and your photos will be published, and the police personnel will be suspended. But when she rejoins, there won't be any news—neither for you, nor the media, nor for ordinary people like us. I'm sorry, Major. We will never be able to change this system," social media user Ashok Danoda wrote in a post on X.
A senior police official said the matter has been taken cognisance of and assigned to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic East) for inquiry.
