Jammu Road Rage: How a 60-Year-Old Became a Victim of Privilege and Violence
By: Javid Amin | Jammu | 29 July 2025
The Attack That Shook Jammu
In a city that prides itself on its hospitality and calm, the brutal road rage assault in Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, has shocked the conscience of the public.
Kamal Dutta, a 60-year-old man riding a two-wheeler, was allegedly struck by a Mahindra Thar SUV driven by 21-year-old engineering student Manan Anand. But what turned a tragic accident into an act of near-homicide was what followed: Anand reversed the SUV and ran over Dutta a second time as the elderly man tried to stand—an act captured in gut-wrenching detail on CCTV.
Not Negligence—Attempted Murder
Initially charged with negligent driving, the Jammu & Kashmir Police have now upgraded the charges to attempted murder under IPC Section 307—reflecting the brutality and intention evident in the footage.
The accused’s father has been detained, and the vehicle has been seized, but Anand remains untraceable as a statewide manhunt intensifies.
The Man Fighting for His Life
At Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, Kamal Dutta lies in the ICU with serious head and neck injuries. Doctors confirm slight improvement, but the road to recovery remains uncertain.
A man who went out on his two-wheeler is now in a hospital bed, his life altered in a matter of seconds—not by fate, but by someone else’s recklessness and arrogance.
Road Rage or Rage Culture?
Let’s be clear—this wasn’t a moment of lost temper. This was violence fueled by entitlement. It forces us to confront a larger, uncomfortable truth:
💣 How did we become a nation where:
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Young drivers treat roads like personal playgrounds?
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Powerful SUVs are symbols of status, not responsibility?
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Minor traffic incidents escalate into brutal assaults or fatalities?
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Perpetrators believe they can escape justice—because of wealth, connections, or privilege?
Roads Are Not Battlefields
India witnesses over 400 road accident deaths daily, and while most are due to poor infrastructure or speeding, road rage is the invisible epidemic no one wants to talk about.
We’ve normalized aggression:
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Honking as intimidation
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Overtaking as ego
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Arguments as status duels
We’ve weaponized vehicles—especially SUVs like Thars or Fortuners—and too often, youth with money and horsepower but no empathy are let loose on public roads.
What Must Change?
This tragedy must be a watershed moment, not just another headline. Here’s what needs to happen:
01. Swift, Public Justice
The accused must be arrested, tried, and punished transparently. Justice delayed in such public crimes erodes societal trust.
02. Mandatory Anger Management in Licensing
Driving tests should include behavioral assessments, especially for high-risk age groups (18–25).
03. Vehicle Accountability Laws
Cars must be treated like weapons in road rage cases—allow lifetime blacklisting of vehicles used in deliberate harm.
04. Civic Education in Schools & Colleges
Road safety is not just a traffic rulebook. It’s a moral education about coexisting in public spaces.
05. Media & Community Action
Let’s not forget Kamal Dutta in a week. Let his story fuel:
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Road safety campaigns
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Citizen journalism
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Local watchdog groups that hold drivers and officials accountable
Final Thoughts: This Is About All of Us
Kamal Dutta could have been your father, uncle, or neighbor. This wasn’t just about a car and a scooter—this was about how we’ve allowed aggression to replace empathy.
Every reckless act behind the wheel is a potential murder waiting to happen.
And until we hold perpetrators truly accountable, no road in India is safe—no matter how well-paved it is.
Let’s Demand Justice. Let’s Demand Change.
If you’re reading this, don’t just scroll past. Share this, talk about it, and push for reforms. Because next time, the victim might be someone you love.
