Qayoom Khan
Srinagar, Aug 01 : Employees of Block Development Office (BDO) Pulwama Thursday went on indefinite strike against the alleged inaction by police against a person who allegedly assaulted a technical staff member in his office last month.
In a detailed letter, of which a copy lies with news agency to Assistant Commissioner Development of the district, BDO Pulwama Abid Iqbal Malik has maintained that a person Altaf Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Gani Bhat of Washbugh forcibly and unauthorizedly entered his office whereupon he manhandled a technical staff (member) of his office.
The BDO has maintained that he wrote to the Station House Officer (SHO) vide his office Letter No. FIR/19/390-92 dated 03/07/2019 for registration of FIR against the said person, however to utter dismay the person is roaming free and can be seen wandering around the office with some unknown persons.
According to BDO the person (also) made forcible entry to his office on 31 July 2019 at 4.15 pm and asked him to sign the document regarding execution of work under 14th FC. On being retorted that he cannot sign the document without approval of Deputy Commissioner Pulwama and District Panchayat Officer Pulwama and without following proper and due procedure, the said person according to BDO abused and vandalized his office. He caught hold of my color, threatened me of dire consequences and threw a paperweight which hit my shoulder.
The BDO quoting the assailant said that he threatened him that “I will definitely get you killed in ten days and nobody can do anything to me”. He boasted of having very high contacts in police and elsewhere and while referring to a previous complaint filed against him vide FIR number 19/390-92 dated 03/07/2019, he said, “even you a dozen of FIR against me, nobody will arrest me,” the BDO has maintained in the letter.
While underlining the importance of public servants working with fairness, honestly and effectively, the BDO has said that “in order to enable a public servant to discharge his duties without fear or favor or without malice or ill will, sufficient legal sanctions and institutional measures have been put in place by the state.
According to the official the inaction by the police against the person give credence to his claims of having high contact in the corridors of power and reasonable apprehensions have arose in my mind regarding the safety and security of my person as well as of my family.
The BDO has further wrote that the matter be taken up with higher authorities of the department as well as the District and apprise them of severity of the situation.
The BDO has meanwhile requested in his letter that the person be black-listed from performing any functions’ as mate/contractor/supplier/facilitator/vendor and communication be addressed to various other Government departments/private companies for issuance of similar orders against the said person.
A police official told news agency that two separate FIRs are registered against the assailant at Police Station Pulwama. “For the incident involving the manhandling of technical staff on July 3 we have registered an FIR number 124/2019 under section 353,506 while for the incident of 31 July another FIR with number 158/2019 under section 353, 506.
However the official declined to comment further.
Meanwhile in a complete solidarity with the department, employees of eleven blocks of the district are on indefinite strike. “We are in complete solidarity with our department and demand that assailant be sent behind the bars sooner than later with stern action taken against him”, they said. (GNS)
