Garima Garg. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Sept. 10: Kaziranga brand ambassador Zubeen Garg’s wife Garima broke the speed limit while driving down a stretch of the national park late last night and slapped a volunteer when accosted.

The administration was forced to impose the speed limit after a number of animals were run over by vehicles while crossing a 40-km stretch of National Highway 37 that cuts through the national park. Five deer were hit in the last fortnight alone.

Garima’s vehicle allegedly crossed the 40-km stretch from Amguri under Burapahar range to Haldhibari under Kohora range in just 18 minutes. Had she travelled at the permissible speed, it would have taken her an hour to reach Haldhibari.

She had to pay a fine of Rs 500 for violating the rule.

When asked, Garima said she was not aware of the speed limit.

The irony is startling since it was her singer husband who had launched a drive at Kaziranga last year during the floods to save animals.

He had even composed a song for Kaziranga that he sang during a two-day programme near the park.

Garima, who was on her way to her maternal home at Golaghat with relatives from Guwahati, said no one had bothered to inform her about the speed limit.

“We were issued a ticket at a checkpost on the highway at Amguri but were not informed why the ticket was given. When I reached Haldhibari near Bokakhat, I was asked for the ticket and was treated badly by few persons dressed in civvies,” she said.

Garima also admitted having slapped a volunteer but said she was “provoked”.

“They insulted my husband, said nasty things against him despite my apologising to the forest guards for violating the speed limit,” she said.

A Kaziranga official said it was unfortunate that a person from Assam should be ignorant about the speed limit on the highway.

“We generally caution truck drivers who come from outside the state and are not aware of the rules,” he said.

A police officer said no case has been registered against the singer’s wife since the volunteer who was assaulted has not lodged a complaint.

“She was allowed to go after paying a fine for violating the speed limit,” a police officer at Kohora outpost said.

Last night’s incident comes a few days after the singer himself faced public ire for “drunken misbehaviour” during a performance in Guwahati.