ENGINEER ASSAULTS ACCOUNTANT OVER DELAYED SALARY AT MUNICIPAL OFFICE

Viral video shows heated confrontation at Devbhog CMO office; unions demand swift action

An engineer and his associates were booked for attacking an accountant at the Chief Municipal Officer's office in Devbhog, Chhattisgarh, after a heated discussion over delayed salary payments escalated into violence. The incident, captured on video and now circulating on social media, has triggered sharp reactions from employee unions demanding immediate arrests.

The altercation unfolded on the evening of May 7 at the Devbhog Municipal Panchayat office when engineer Shyam Sundar Patnaik called accountant Sandeep Chandrakar to discuss delays in wage disbursement. What began as a conversation quickly turned confrontational, with witnesses saying the discussion shifted into an argument over the payment issue.

According to initial reports, as tensions escalated, Patnaik's associates suddenly began assaulting Chandrakar. The viral footage shows multiple individuals landing blows while CMO Dushyant Sahu, who held the position at the time, attempted to intervene. The accountant was seen retaliating, at one point removing a man's turban while defending himself.

Police registered cases against engineer Shyam Sundar Patnaik and three associates based on the accountant's complaint. A separate case was filed against Chandrakar following complaints from the other side, covering related sections under the Indian Penal Code.

Employee union representatives submitted a memorandum to Devbhog police on Saturday, demanding non-bailable charges and arrest of the accused. State President Rajesh Soni led the delegation, warning of sit-in protests if action is not taken within seven days. The accountant holds the position of state treasurer in the employee union.

A curious detail emerged during the investigation. When police initially sought CCTV footage from the CMO office on the day of the incident, Sahu claimed no recording existed. However, the viral video contradicts this claim, and police have now sent formal inquiries requesting verification and additional details from the office.

Station in-charge Faizul Shah Huda confirmed that both complaints were addressed based on statements from the involved parties. Police noted the gravity of evidence being shared publicly through social media rather than directly with law enforcement, and said a full investigation into the cause of the dispute and all circumstances is underway.

Municipal Panchayat Chairman Rajesh Tiwari expressed frustration, stating this marked the second incident damaging the panchayat's reputation due to poor coordination between staff and officials. He indicated he would petition the government to transfer the responsible officials to other postings.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about workplace conduct and employee relations in municipal administration, coming at a time when salary-related disputes have created friction in several administrative offices across the state.