Who Is Lovish Garg? Meghalaya IPS Officer Injured After Scooty Hits Him During Shillong Vehicle Checking
A late-night vehicle-checking operation in Shillong turned serious on Friday when Lovish Garg, an Indian Police Service officer serving as Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic) in East Khasi Hills, was seriously injured after a scooty allegedly struck him while its two riders were attempting to evade a police checkpoint. The incident occurred at around 1:30 am on September 18 in the Urkaliar area, near Samkhamti Petrol Pump, where police personnel were conducting naka checking as part of heightened law-and-order arrangements.
According to police, the two men riding the scooty did not stop despite being directed to do so and allegedly continued moving aggressively through the checking point. Garg reportedly intervened to prevent the vehicle from escaping and signalled the rider to stop, but the scooty allegedly accelerated and hit him. He was immediately taken to Woodland Hospital for emergency treatment and was later shifted to the High Dependency (HD) Unit for further medical care.
IPS Officer Hit During Naka Checking in Shillong
The incident unfolded while police were carrying out intensified checking operations in Shillong. City Superintendent of Police Dangsan Khyriem said that the two riders attempted to evade the checkpoint and continued despite police directions to stop.
Police have described the circumstances as serious, saying the manner in which the scooty allegedly moved towards Garg appeared deliberate and could have caused grievous injury to the officer. Based on the circumstances reported by the police, a case relating to attempt to murder has been registered. The investigation is expected to establish the exact sequence of events and the circumstances surrounding the alleged attempt to evade the checkpoint.
The officer’s injury occurred while he was personally involved in an active law-and-order operation. Garg’s intervention came as police personnel were attempting to stop the two-wheeler, turning what began as a routine checking exercise into a serious incident involving an on-duty IPS officer.
Lovish Garg Undergoing Treatment
Following the collision, Garg was rushed to Woodland Hospital, where he received emergency medical treatment. Reports said he subsequently underwent minor surgery and was kept under observation in the hospital’s HD Unit.
The incident has drawn attention because it occurred during a period when police have stepped up naka checking across Shillong. The intensified operations are linked to broader law-and-order concerns in the city, with police maintaining increased vigilance and checking vehicles at different locations.
As of the latest reports, the investigation remains underway and the authorities are examining the circumstances in which the two-wheeler approached the checkpoint, the conduct of its occupants and what prompted them to allegedly attempt to flee.
Two Riders Arrested, Investigation Underway
The two men travelling on the scooty have been arrested, according to multiple reports. Police are investigating their movements at the time of the incident as well as the reasons they allegedly attempted to avoid the checking operation.
Police have also raised the possibility that the two suspects may be associated with the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU). However, this remains an allegation under investigation and should not be treated as an established fact. The KSU has denied the police claim that its members were involved in the incident, according to a report published by Meghalaya Times.
The question of whether the accused have any organisational affiliation, along with the motive behind their alleged attempt to evade the checkpoint, is therefore part of the ongoing investigation. Authorities have said that the motive for their movement at that hour and their attempt to avoid the naka is being ascertained.
Why Vehicle Checking Has Intensified in Shillong
The incident comes against the backdrop of heightened security measures in Shillong following a series of recent incidents involving petrol bombs and attacks targeting police and government-related property. Police have consequently intensified naka checking and other preventive measures in different parts of the city.
The objective of these operations is to monitor suspicious movement, maintain public order and prevent further incidents. Police have also reiterated that motorists and other road users are expected to comply with lawful directions issued during checking operations.
The latest incident has added another layer to those security concerns, with an officer himself becoming seriously injured while attempting to enforce a checkpoint. Police have said that strict checking operations will continue in the interest of public safety and maintenance of law and order.
Shillong Security Concerns After August 19 Violence
The intensified security arrangements follow violence in Shillong on August 19 during a “black flag bike rally” organised by the KSU in connection with its demands. During the unrest, several vehicles, including vehicles registered in neighbouring Assam, and individuals were attacked.
The subsequent police action included the arrest of six KSU leaders, according to the supplied account. More recent incidents involving petrol bombs targeting police stations, government establishments and government property have added to the security concerns and prompted continued vigilance by law-enforcement agencies.
It is against this backdrop that vehicle-checking operations have been strengthened in Shillong. Police are using naka checking as one of the measures to monitor movement and maintain law and order, particularly during late-night hours.
Police Warn Against Evading Checkpoints
Following the incident, police reiterated that people must follow lawful instructions given by officers during checking operations. Authorities have also warned that attempts to evade police checkpoints or act against personnel performing official duties can result in legal action.
The investigation into the incident will now focus on the precise circumstances of the collision, the conduct and movements of the two arrested men, and whether there was any deliberate intent behind the alleged acceleration towards the officer. The police will also examine the reported claims concerning the suspects’ possible association with the KSU.
Who Is Lovish Garg?
Lovish Garg is a 2022-batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, with his service allocation listed under the Meghalaya side of the cadre. He secured All India Rank 184 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2021 and joined the IPS on December 19, 2022. The official IPS civil list identifies Garg as a 2022-batch officer, records Punjab as his home state and lists his educational qualification as B.A., LL.B. (Hons.).
Garg completed his integrated B.A., LL.B. at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. NALSAR itself congratulated him after his success in the UPSC Civil Services Examination and identified him as a 2019 law graduate from the institution.
His academic background includes an association with the Indian Journal of Air and Space Law, where he served as an associate editor. He also developed academic interests in areas including aviation law, international refugee law and Third World Approaches to International Law. During his academic years, he worked as a research assistant on a project involving the examination and classification of Supreme Court judgments.
From UPSC Success to Meghalaya Police
After entering the IPS, Garg underwent professional police training at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA). During his training, he commanded Platoon No. 8 during the 76th Regular Recruitments passing-out parade, according to the profile information published about him.
Following his allocation to the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, Garg served as Deputy Commandant of the 5th Meghalaya Police Battalion at Samanda. He later took up field responsibilities in Meghalaya and was serving as Additional Superintendent of Police, in charge of Traffic, in East Khasi Hills district, Shillong, at the time of the September 18 incident.
His current assignment places him directly in charge of traffic-related policing in one of Meghalaya’s most important urban districts. The role involves not only traffic management but also responsibilities connected with enforcement, public safety and law-and-order arrangements.
The incident at Urkaliar has therefore brought attention to both Garg’s relatively young IPS career and the demanding nature of frontline policing. While he was carrying out a late-night checking operation, the alleged attempt by a two-wheeler to evade the checkpoint resulted in a collision that left the officer seriously injured.
For now, Garg remains under medical observation, while the two arrested riders face investigation in connection with the case. The police inquiry will determine the exact circumstances of the incident, including the intent behind the alleged attempt to evade the checkpoint and the claims surrounding the suspects’ possible association with the KSU.
