Joydeb Das identifies himself as Arif Uddin when caught drunk at Sadarghat by Police; "It’s okay to be drunk on 31st" he says 

During a routine check on New Year’s Eve, Cachar Police, the Department of Transport, and Silchar Traffic Police were on high alert to prevent road accidents caused by drunk driving. At Sadarghat Point in Silchar, a Srikona resident, Joydeb Das, and his companion were caught on camera providing false information to the authorities.

When stopped by the vigilance team for a breathalyser test, Joydeb Das and his companion were found to be riding under the influence of alcohol. Upon being questioned, Das initially gave his name as Arif Uddin but failed to provide his father’s name.

The breathalyser test revealed an alcohol level of 31.7. Das claimed he and his friends were heading home from Rongpur to Alambag in Srikona. Neither of them wore helmets while riding. When asked his name by the police, he maintained it was Arif Uddin. However, when journalists covering the vigilance drive asked for his father’s name, he hesitated before claiming it was Aslam Uddin. Both pieces of information were later confirmed to be false, with Das attempting to conceal his religion during questioning.

About his drunken state said, “It is okay to be drunk today”, indicating to the new year and what harm he was causing even if he was drunk. Even though Das was not riding the scooty, but his friend, the scooty rider was also inebriated.

The incident occurred around 10:30 PM on December 31, while strict vigilance was being maintained across Silchar under the supervision of Cachar SP Numal Mahatta and District Transport Officer (DTO) Ramesh Shyam.

Upon further investigation, police identified Arif Uddin’s real name as Joydeb Das. During the incident, Das misbehaved with the police, attempted to snatch cameras from journalists, and displayed unruly behaviour while inebriated. Declared unfit for riding, he was detained according to SP Mahatta’s instructions and taken to Sadar Thana.

The incident took place amidst a broader road safety campaign led by DTO, Cachar Police, the Excise Department, and the Traffic Branch. The drive focused on penalising violations such as riding without helmets, failing to wear seat belts, and using black-tinted glass on vehicles. In severe cases, licences were also seized.

The administration’s vigilance efforts underline the importance of adhering to traffic norms to ensure public safety, particularly during festive seasons.

Speaking with the media, DTO Cachar, Ramesh Shyam said, “Our campaign is against drunken driving today during this festive season. We must maintain safety and prevent any untoward accidents during such times of high spirits. While wishing everyone a happy New Year, our aim is to ensure that there are no violations of rules that lead to accidents. If, after a breathalyser test, someone is found to be drunk, their licence is seized, and they are penalised too.”

Cachar SP Numal Mahatta too echoes DTO’s sentiments and said, “We are present round the clock in this campaign before the New Year. Today, on the eve of the New Year, while everyone celebrates and welcomes the year ahead, we want to ensure that there is no unhappiness caused by road accidents. Our team is conducting announcements and campaigns to maintain road safety. People should be cautious about their lives. Rash driving, drunk driving, and violation of traffic norms should not cost anyone their lives. It is common during New Year for students and youths to flout rules, but we must follow them at all costs to prevent accidents and unhappiness.”