Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: A video from Ladakh’s high-altitude Fotu La Pass sparked widespread outrage on social media after a man from Haryana was seen defacing an official Border Roads Organisation (BRO) milestone by pasting a “Gurjar” sticker on it. The incident, which occurred at an altitude of 13,479 feet, has been strongly condemned as vandalism and an example of irresponsible tourism in a sensitive border region.In the viral video, the man pastes the sticker on the BRO milestone and then smiles proudly at the camera as it pans toward his car, appearing to pose for social media. The vehicle’s registration number is clearly visible in the footage, prompting users to demand strict action from authorities.Social media users strongly condemned the act, pointing out that BRO signboards are not merely navigational markers but symbols of the immense effort and labour involved in connecting India’s remote and sensitive border regions. Many described the act as disrespectful and reflective of poor civic sense.Users tagged the Border Roads Organisation, Ladakh Traffic Police and other authorities, urging them to take legal action against the individual for damaging public property. One user claimed that the vehicle involved had at least 18 pending traffic challans, suggesting a history of repeated traffic violations.The video triggered sharp reactions online, with several users linking the incident to a broader pattern of irresponsible behaviour by some tourists. One user wrote, “Peak height. Zero class. It’s a “no respect, no civic sense” problem. Don’t drag an entire group for one idiot chasing attention at 13,000 ft. Altitude went up. Brain stayed at sea level.”Another commented, “This man shows his civic sense as well as his mentality. You belong to any caste or religion but this shows in your behaviour, atiquette, posture. What do these guys want to show???”A third user said, “Bhaii yeh toh unhi logo ke jaise hai jo Lal Qila etc jaise monuments ghumne jaane par Rahul loves Sonam likhkar aa jaate hai”
