Video Prompts Inquiry After Bihar Visitors Allege Assault at Namo Ghat

VARANASI: A late-night dispute at Namo Ghat has become the subject of scrutiny after visitors from Bihar alleged that boatmen and security personnel chased and assaulted members of their group near Gate Number 2.

The incident was reported at around 10 pm on Monday. The visitors had travelled from Bhabua, and one member of the group, identified as Duresh Ansari, submitted a written account alleging assault and abuse after an argument while they were leaving the ghat. A short video circulating with the report appears to show several people in a confrontation, including a person who seems to be in a security uniform. A clip can establish that an altercation occurred, but it does not by itself establish what started it or identify every participant.

The group contacted the Dial 112 emergency service. The initial report said an application was taken to the Adampur police-station area, while inspector Vimal Kumar Mishra said no person had come to register a case at the station. That difference should be resolved by checking the emergency-call log, any written acknowledgment and CCTV from the gate.

Namo Ghat manager Anees Pandey initially questioned whether the episode involved the facility or its guards, and later said he would speak to those concerned, according to the report. The management must be given a fair opportunity to review staff deployment records and provide its version. The same applies to boat operators named generally in the allegation; collective labels should not substitute for identifying who is visible and what each person did.

The investigation should preserve original video files rather than rely on compressed social-media copies. Time stamps, camera angles, entry records and witness statements can establish sequence. If a security guard intervened, the inquiry should determine whether the intervention followed training and whether force, if any, was proportionate. If visitors were threatened or assaulted, the responsible individuals should be dealt with through law, not informal settlement.

Namo Ghat has become a high-footfall riverfront destination, particularly after dark. That popularity creates a duty to make exit routes, boat transactions and complaint channels unambiguous. Visible help points, displayed rates and body-worn identification for authorised staff could reduce disputes and make later verification easier.

Visitors should report an incident promptly, note the exact gate and time, preserve their original recording and seek medical documentation if injured. They should not post private phone numbers or unverified identities while facts remain under inquiry.

The allegation is serious, but the answer is evidence, not a trial by viral video. A time-bound review of CCTV and call records can tell the public whether the people entrusted with order at the ghat acted properly—and, if not, who must be held accountable.