Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 20: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today virtually reprimanded Minister of State for Home and National Conference MLA from Kishtwar Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo for slapping Kishtwar Development Authority (KDA) Chief Executive Officer Reyaz Ahmad Choudhary in Kishtwar on Thursday and asked the Minister to visit Kishtwar and sort out the matter with the KAS officer.
Meanwhile, since Choudhary has cited the Deputy Commissioner, Additional DC and SP Kishtwar as witnesses in slapping incident in his written complaint submitted to Kishtwar police station, the police authorities have decided to record written statements of all three witnesses before proceeding ahead.
In a brief chat with media persons on the sidelines of a function at Amar Mahal Museum this afternoon, Omar said such a conduct (slapping an official) is unbecoming of a public representative and the Minister has been asked to “amicably” sort out the matter.
Omar holds the charge of Home Ministry while Mr Kichloo had been inducted as Minister of State for Home in the Council of Ministry on January 15 this year.
“Such a conduct is unbecoming on the part of a Minister and shouldn’t be repeated in future. I have spoken to Mr Kichloo. I have also talked to the KAS Officers Association. The Minister has assured me that such incident will not happen again,” the Chief Minister said.
He said he has asked Mr Kichloo to sit down with the official concerned and resolve the matter “amicably” and the Minister has assured him that “such incidents will not be repeated in future.”
“I told him (Mr Kichloo) that this (slapping a senior officer) is not the conduct that is becoming of a Minister. I have expressed my displeasure to Mr Kichloo over the incident. Whatever be the cause, as a public representative such incidents need to be avoided,” Omar said.
“This is what I also told to KAS Officers Association as well. They seem to be fairly satisfied. I had a conversation with the Minister. He has understood that this should not have happened and will not be repeated again,” he said.
Omar said the KAS Officer Association was also satisfied after being briefed about the Minister’s assurance.
Choudhary had alleged that while reviewing arrangements ahead of Chief Minister’s rally in his home Assembly constituency of Kishtwar, Mr Kichloo had slapped him twice after an argument over his late arrival at the venue in the morning of April 18 when Omar had to address a public meeting in Kishtwar town.
The official had alleged that he was also beaten-up by Mr Kichloo’s security staff and supporters.
Meanwhile, police sources today said in the written complaint submitted at Kishtwar police station through a peon on April 18 night, Reyaz Choudhary had cited the DC, ADC and SP Kishtwar as witnesses of the slapping incident with him.
“Since the official has cited all three senior officers of the district as witnesses in the incident, we have deputed a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) to take written statements of the officers (on the incident)) before proceeding further,” sources said, adding the DySP has recorded statements of one of the officers and would be recording two other statements soon.
Sources pointed out that since the officer himself has cited three important witnesses, it was necessary to note their written statements before proceeding further in the case.
Meanwhile, a handout issued by Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service Officers Association said their delegation met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in presence of Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey and conveyed anguish of KAS fraternity over the unfortunate incident of manhandling of one of the senior officers of the Service by a Minister of State at Kishtwar.
The handout said the delegation sought the intervention of Mr Abdullah in restoring morale of the officers by taking immediate action and taking steps to curb recurrence of such incidents in future.
The Association quoted the Chief Minister as assuring them that he has already taken notice of the unfortunate incident and conveyed his displeasure to the Minister. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the issue will be resolved soon.
The Chief Minister assured the delegation that no such incident will be allowed to happen in future and all necessary steps will be taken in this regard, the handout said.
It added that Omar stressed on the need to have guidelines on requirement of the officers to accompany the Ministers during their tour programmes, especially in their constituencies, so that the public works didn’t suffer.
Omar assured the delegation that these guidelines will be placed before the Cabinet in the next meeting. The Association hoped that necessary action will be initiated in the matter immediately.
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