Ganderbal, Mar 18,: The work in the office of Tehsildar here in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district is in the stagnation mode from past week due to Tehsildar’s continuous confrontation with a social and political leader in the district. A number of purported videos are viral on social media showing Tehsildar Ganderbal Muhammad Iqbal rebuking and scolding Chairman Awami Insaf Party Ghulam Ahmed Saloora.
The confrontation started after a delegation led by Saloora visited the office of the Tehsildar last week. “People were facing some problems that we wanted to discuss with the Tehsildar. We requested Tehsildar Ganderbal to give us a patient hearing for only five minutes when he was coming out from his office and was about to board his official vehicle. He and his employees were irked after I told him he is bound to listen to the people. His employees created scene and locked the gate though I repeatedly apologized,” Saloora told news agency CNS.
“The matter didn’t end here. Saloora was humiliated and his vehicle was not allowed to leave from the Tehsildar’s office. The employees who acted as more loyal than the king made a mockery and even tried to manhandle Ghulam Ahmed Saloora in presence of Tehsildar,” said a local who accompanied Saloora.
Tehsildar who is also an first class executive magistrate ironically allowed his employees to record a video when he asked Saloora to appear in his court. One could easily see in the video, Saloora apologizing while Tehsildar and his supporters (employees) boasting and virtually making fun of him. “Saloora didn’t act because he threatened of writing a letter to Election Commission asking it to bar him from contesting the upcoming Assembly election. Saloora has worked hard in his constituency and thus doesn’t want to take any chance,” said one of the protesters at DC Office Ganderbal.
The supporters of Saloora held a protest against the Tehsildar and his employees at Qamariya Chowk. The protest culminated at DC office where protesters handed over a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Hashmat Ali seeking action against Tehsildar and a couple of employees.
The Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal according to protesters assured a fair probe.
“Despite not doing anything, I apologized. If asking an official to address the problems of the people is a crime then I am guilty,” said Saloora.
Despite repeated attempts, Tehsildar Ganderbal didn’t pick up the phone; however, an employee in his defense said that the behavior of Ghulam Ahmed Saloora was not up to the mark.
When contacted, DC Ganderbal told CNS that matter has been resolved amicably. “There was some confrontation and the matter has been sorted out,” he said. (CNS)
