Four persons, including two employees of the state health department and a civic volunteer, were arrested on charges of harassing the sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Alipurduar and also for driving in an inebriated state on Monday evening.

Police sources said Priyadarshini Bhattacharya, an IAS officer posted as the SDO, was returning to Alipurduar from Rajabhatkhawa when her vehicle had a close shave as a car was running recklessly at a high speed with four persons in it.

“The SDO asked her driver to follow the car — heading in the opposite direction. Police were also informed who intercepted the car at Damanpur (on Alipurduar outskirts). The quartet had an argument with the SDO as she reached the spot. They were under the influence of alcohol and have been arrested,” said a police officer.

On Tuesday, the quartet Sanjib Kushali, a pharmacist, Surajit Chatterjee, a medical technologist, Amal Ghosh, a civic volunteer, and Ranjit Das were produced in a local court and released on bail.