The incidents in Karnataka’s Kota, where the 25-year-old man had put up a table, television, and music system in the middle of the busy highway, causing commuters to panic, and the national headlines came as a 25-year-old man set up a table, television, and music system in the middle of the busy highway, disrupting traffic and making waves on social media.
The accused has been identified as Ranjith Somayaji, a resident of Bellada Ganapathi Devasthana.
The highway turned into an unusual scene.
The incident took place on Monday afternoon when Ranjith took a table on the highway and placed a television and music system on it, blocking the vehicles, the police said.
The unusual setup in the middle of the road caused drivers to be confused and caused traffic to be halted on the busy stretch of NH-66. Commuters and residents of Kota were quick to call the Kota Police, who arrived to restore flow.
Police say the accused threatened officers
The situation escalated when officers tried to intervene, he said.
The accused brandished a sword and attempted to attack police officers who were trying to pull him off the highway, police said.
The officers were able to overpower him without major injuries being reported and took him into custody. He was moved to the police station for questioning.
Mental Health Angle Being Examined
Police said they believed that the accused might be suffering from a mental health illness at the time of this investigation because of his unusual behavior, the initial investigation revealed.
But officials said they have not found any medical records or documentary evidence that he has previously had psychiatric treatment.
A police officer said that in the absence of such evidence, a criminal case has been registered and the investigation is now continuing in accordance with the law.
As part of the investigation, authorities can also conduct further medical examinations.
Video Goes Viral
The video on social media that seems to be the most bizarre incident so far has gone viral.
The footage reportedly shows the accused sitting calmly beside the table, television, and music system placed in the middle of the highway while vehicles remain stranded nearby.
Online, people in this case were astonished that that happened, and many said highway safety and the need for police to intervene in time were urgent.
Investigation Underway
Police have registered a case against the accused under relevant legal provisions related to obstructing public roads, endangering public safety, and other applicable offences.
Investigators are now working to determine the motive behind the act and whether there are additional circumstances contributing to the incident.
Meanwhile, regular traffic on NH-66 was restored after the accused was taken into custody and the objects were removed from the roadway.
The situation is still under investigation, and further action will take place based on the investigation, police said.
