GPSC officer alleges assault by group following road rage incident near Shilaj

A Section Officer with the Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) has lodged a police complaint alleging that she was assaulted and threatened by three persons, including an elderly two-wheeler rider, following a road rage incident near Shilaj on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.

According to Bopal Police, the complainant, Hemali Patel, 44, a resident of Satellite and employed as a Section Officer with the GPSC in Gandhinagar, alleged that the incident took place on the evening of May 26 while she was returning from Gandhinagar after visiting Lalgebi Ashram.

Patel told police that she was driving her Tata Safari SUV along DPS Canal Road and had reached near the GEB office close to Harsh Prime Society at around 7 pm when an elderly man riding an Activa-like two-wheeler approached her vehicle.

The two-wheeler rider allegedly came close to the front of her vehicle, prompting her to ask why he was in such a hurry. Patel alleged that the man then became aggressive, parked his two-wheeler and attempted to damage the driver's side window of her vehicle.

When she stepped out of the car, the man allegedly grabbed her by the head, pushed her to the ground and assaulted her. She further alleged that a crowd gathered at the scene, including a woman wearing a green saree and another unidentified man carrying a stick.

The woman and the unidentified man allegedly joined the assault, striking her, hurling abuses and issuing threats. Patel claimed the group warned her against travelling through the area and threatened to kill her.

The complainant further stated that an unidentified passer-by advised her to leave the area immediately, warning that the group could become more violent. Fearing for her safety, she returned to her vehicle and drove away from the scene.

Patel told police that she was unable to lodge an immediate complaint because of her professional commitments and subsequently approached the police on June 2.

Based on her complaint, Bopal Police have registered a case against the unidentified elderly two-wheeler rider, the woman in the green saree and another unidentified man for offences including assault, criminal intimidation and use of abusive language. Police said efforts are underway to identify the accused and verify the circumstances surrounding the incident.