Newsinc24 Team 
Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday transferred a senior IAS officer seen on a video slapping a man, and throwing his phone on the ground for allegedly violating safety norms during the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown, in Surajpur district.This is extremely unfortunate and condemnable. No such incident shall be tolerated in Chhattisgarh. Baghel said. Ranbir Sharma, the collector of Surajpur district, has been attached to the state secretariat as a joint secretary. Gaurav Kumar Singh has been appointed as the new district collector of Surajpur.
The IAS Association also condemned the incident, tweeting: "We strongly condemn the behaviour of collector Surajpur, Chhattisgarh. It is unacceptable and against the basic tenets of the service and civility. Civil servants must have empathy and provide a healing touch to society at all times, more so in these difficult times."
The IAS Association strongly condemns the behaviour of Collector Surajpur, Chhattisgarh.
— IAS Association (@IASassociation) May 23, 2021
It is unacceptable & against the basic tenets of the service & civility.
Civil servants must have empathy & provide a healing touch to society at all times, more so in these difficult times.
After the video of the incident went viral, evoking widespread anger against the official, Sharma apologised, saying in a statement that he never had any intention to "disrespect or belittle the person in the video." Claiming to be a Covid-19 survivor himself, and that his mother was still battling the infection, Sharma accused the man of overspeeding and misbehaving with officials. He also said that contrary to media reports, the man is not a minor, and is, in fact, 23-years-old.
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