Sukhdev Painkara, deployed at Devnagar nursery in the Latori chowki area, was nabbed by a group of young men – reportedly kin of his lady love from Maheshpur – while cozying up with her amid plantation beds. What followed was a chaotic scene of slaps, belt whippings, and mockery, all filmed for posterity.

The assailants didn’t stop at violence; they cranked up a tune on the guard’s mobile and commanded him to dance, hurling expletives throughout. The mortified officer’s desperate appeals for release were ignored as the group vented their fury.

Post-incident, no FIR was lodged at Surajpur Kotwali, and the forest department remained in the dark until the video surfaced. DFO DP Sahu swiftly responded with a show-cause notice, questioning why an attack on a uniformed employee wasn’t immediately escalated.

This scandal has ignited debates on workplace ethics for forest personnel, who patrol sensitive wildlife zones. Netizens are divided – some sympathize with the guard’s plight, others ridicule his lapse in judgment. As investigations proceed, the episode serves as a stark reminder of the perils of mixing personal dalliances with professional responsibilities in remote postings.