New Delhi: In a video circulated on social media, a Thar owner is seen vandalising a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) plaque in Leh, Ladakh. The video shows the man pasting a sticker reading “Gujjar” (in Hindi) and appearing delighted after damaging the roadside plaque.
After the video surfaced, police traced the vehicle and discovered that at least 18 challans were pending against the owner. The incident has sparked widespread controversy on social media.
Netizens react
The post drew sharp criticism from netizens. Some remarked that Thar owners often tend to indulge in reckless or irresponsible behaviour, while others urged the BRO authorities to take strict action against the man.
One viewer commented, “This is a criminal offence—tampering with the signboards of the Border Roads Organisation. Requesting @SpokespersonMoD to kindly take action.”
Another wrote, “The moment you step into a Thar, you seem to lose your senses and start acting stupid. When someone from Delhi or Haryana buys a Thar, he thinks he can do anything because he believes he has a licence to behave like an idiot with zero civic sense.”
A third user asked, “Why is he grinning like he’s conquered Mount Everest or something?” Another added, “I’m very sure he would have littered the sticker peel as well. It’s shocking how some people feel so entitled to do anything anywhere. The law must come into play here.”
The Gujjar Community
The Gujjars (or Gurjars) are a large and diverse ethnic community, primarily pastoral and agricultural, spread across India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. They are known for their historical role in founding kingdoms and for their nomadic as well as settled lifestyles. The community includes followers of Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism, with internal divisions based on clans and regions.
Gujjars are primarily found in the Indian states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat, as well as in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nepal. They have strong historical links to the ancient “Gurjaratra” region and have traditionally lived in both mountainous areas and the plains, maintaining close ties to pastoral and agricultural practices.
