In a shocking incident that highlights the growing high-handedness of staff at public service centers, Archana, the Sub-Editor of Rapti News Channel, was allegedly harassed and physically assaulted at an Aadhaar Service Center in Mohalli. The incident occurred while the journalist was visiting the center as an ordinary citizen for her child’s Aadhaar registration.
The Spark of the Conflict
The confrontation began over a routine inquiry regarding address verification. According to Archana, the center staff insisted on a mandatory address change, claiming the current address was four to five kilometers away from their jurisdiction and she said she will not do the work, Archana doing makeup of face .
Physical Assault and Intimidation
The situation escalated when a male staff member, estimated to be between 20 and 30 years old, intervened. Instead of de-escalating, he began intimidating the Rapti News Editor, who accompanied Archana.
“When the atmosphere turned toxic, I began recording the behavior of the staff. This is when the Manager ordered his staff to snatch my phone,” Archana stated.
The journalist further alleged that the staff member used physical force to stop the recording. “He twisted my hand and tried to break my grip on the phone. When I resisted, he started bending my fingers. Even after identifying myself as a journalist and showing my ID card, the staff remained undeterred, mocking the profession by saying, ‘So what if you are a journalist? You still can’t record here.'”
Public Service or Personal Fiefdom?
The recorded footage shows a heated exchange where the staff can be seen demanding the camera be turned off while refusing to address the journalist’s grievances. The staff claimed that media is not permitted inside the center, to which Archana countered that recording a public official’s conduct in a public service building is a citizen’s right, especially when faced with injustice.
In the video, the staff can be heard making veiled threats, with Archana alleging that they threatened to “be harmed” once she stepped outside the center.
Demand for Accountability
Archana has made a formal appeal to the local administration and police to conduct an impartial investigation into the matter.
“I am not making this video for the sake of a controversy. I am doing this for justice, transparency, and the rights of every citizen. If a journalist with an ID card is treated this way, imagine the plight of the elderly and common citizens who visit these centers daily.”
The key questions raised by the incident include:
- Is a Public Service Center (Aadhaar Center) private property where transparency is forbidden?
- Does the staff have the legal authority to physically assault or snatch mobile phones from citizens?
- Why is the “truth” so threatening to these officials that they resort to intimidation?
Conclusion
The RA News team has vowed not to be silenced by such tactics. “A journalist will neither fear nor bow down,” Archana concluded. The channel is now calling for strict action against the Manager and the specific staff members involved in the physical altercation.
