What was supposed to be a big birthday surprise for a wife has turned into a police case in Assam after a midnight celebration on a Guwahati flyover caused widespread outrage online. 14 people have since been arrested, including the husband and wife at the heart of the controversy, since videos of the incident went viral on social media.
The celebration took place on June 22 at 12:30 am on the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Flyover in Guwahati. Police said Gautam Baruah had organised an elaborate birthday celebration for his wife on the flyover where a part of the public road became a private party place for his wife, with a red carpet swept across the street and cars parked on the bridge as people came out for the celebration.
The videos were immediately derided on the internet and many social media users questioned how one of the most important pieces of public infrastructure could be used for a private event. Road safety concerns were also raised by people who feared that such celebrations would drive vehicles over the road and put them in unnecessary danger even at late-night periods when traffic is low.
Following the backlash, Guwahati Police launched an investigation and detained Gautam Baruah for questioning. Police later expanded the investigation and detained 14 people involved in the celebration. A police vehicle was also seized, and four vehicles in the vicinity of the event were also seized. The viral footage shows activities that may have violated public safety regulations, officials said.
Police have registered a case against Baruah under Sections 125, 270, and 285 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) which addresses acts that endanger public safety, negligent conduct, and public nuisance. The investigation is also on the part of all the people who were there and additional action could follow depending on what happens.
The incident has reignited the debate about the misuse of public spaces for personal events and the growing trend of creating social media content at the expense of public convenience and safety. Local residents have advocated for more aggressive enforcement of traffic and civic regulations in the future to prevent such incidents and in Assam, the flyover birthday celebration is still something people are talking about, as well as the need to balance personal celebrations with public responsibility.
