New Delhi: A 16-member team from the Assam Police, after directions from Google Maps, mistakenly crossed into Nagaland while conducting a raid, where they were attacked and held by locals who thought they were criminals. The incident took place in Mokokchung district, Nagaland, on Tuesday night during an operation aimed at arresting a criminal.
The police team, which was in plain clothes and armed, unintentionally strayed into Mokokchung. This had led to confusion. The locals were mistaken them for wrongdoers. They assaulted and detained the officers overnight. The Assam Police team was later rescued by Nagaland Police.
Error causes chaos
A police spokesperson said that Google Maps had inaccurately marked a tea garden, which was actually in Nagaland, as being located in Assam, which had triggering the confusion. The official added that only three of the 16 officers were in uniform, while the rest were in civilian attire, further adding to the misunderstanding. One of the officers sustained injuries during the attack.
Upon learning of the situation, Assam Police contacted their counterparts in Nagalan. This had prompting an immediate rescue operation. The locals then realised their mistake and released five members of the team initially and the remaining 11 officers were freed the next morning.
3 killed as Google Maps misleads car
Last year, three people died when their car, relying on Google Maps, drove onto an under-construction bridge and plunged into the Ramganga river in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. The victims were travelling from Gurugram to Bareilly for a wedding. They fell from a 50-foot height. Police found the car the next morning and identified two victims. Google expressed condolences and is cooperating with authorities. Families blamed officials for the unfinished bridge and demanded an FIR.
