Monsoon pressure? NHAI officer accused of attempting to slap journalist in Kullu

Shimla, Aug 9,

A National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officer in Kullu district  is facing public outrage after allegedly attempting to “turn around and slap” a journalist who asked him a question during road restoration coverage near Banala-Aut.

According to North India Journalists Association State President Dhanesh Gautam, the incident occurred when a local reporter, covering the road clearance work, asked the officer if the route had been reopened. Instead of answering, the officer allegedly lost his temper, retorted “I’ll turn you around and slap you,” and made a physical motion toward the journalist.

“This is a shameful act and deserves strong condemnation,” Gautam said, warning that if immediate action is not taken against the official, journalists across Himachal Pradesh would launch a state-wide agitation and file FIRs in every district. He demanded either a public apology from the officer or strict disciplinary measures by NHAI’s higher authorities.

Voicing with Kullu Journalists working journalist forum of Shimla has also condemned this action of the NH official.

The incident comes close on the heels of a heated exchange last month between Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh and another NHAI official, suggesting growing tensions between the authority’s personnel and those questioning their work.

Observers point out that this monsoon has been one of the most challenging in recent years for NHAI staff, particularly in Himachal’s Mandi–Kullu sector of National Highway-3, which has been closed every other day due to landslides, heavy rainfall, and ongoing repair works.

Journalists’ bodies argue that while the pressure on NHAI officials is undeniable, such stress cannot justify hostility toward the press. “A government official’s role is to inform, not intimidate,” Gautam said, adding that the association is united against “any attempt to silence journalists.”

With Himachal’s fragile mountain roads likely to face more weather disruptions in the coming weeks, stakeholders fear that unless tempers are brought under control, such confrontations between officials, media, and the public could escalate further.

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