SDM ‘roughed up’ by armymen in Anantnag

SRINAGAR: An SDM was allegedly manhandled by army personnel in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Tuesday, sparking protests by government staff.

Duroo SDM Ghulam Rasool Wani, 54, was on way to Vessu in Anantnag along with four other government employees for an election-related work when his vehicle was allegedly stopped by army personnel at Dalwas village on the national highway to allow movement of security force convoy.“they assaulted me and my staff members and broke three phones. They held us hostage at gun point. Had the deputy commissioner not reached the spot on time we would have been killed by now,” Wani said.besides the SDM, the driver of the vehicle, a patwari, clerk and a teacher on election duty were also allegedly beaten up by security personnel.

The SDM said they had taken up the matter with higher authorities and also filed a complaint with police.

Rouf Ahmad Wani, a clerk at the Duroo SDM office, who also accompanied Wani, said their phones were snatched when they were trying to call the deputy commissioner. “The SDM said this was a government vehicle but the army men put their guns on our chests and abused us,” he added.

Army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia did not take calls despite repeated attempts.

The police have registered an FIR in connection with the incident.the assault triggered protests by employees in the SDM office and Dooru tehsil office.

The incident has also been condemned by political leaders. Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti said manhandling of government officials marked a new low. “Army thrashing civilians in the state is nothing new. But manhandling civil officers marks a new low. The valley & its people are being choked to a silent death. For how long will you oppress them in their own land? Is this what we deserve for choosing India over Pakistan?” she tweeted.

“News of physical assault on SDM Duroo by Army is very shocking. If true, DC/SSP Anantnag should immediately register an FIR and arrest the erring personnel. It is hoped that AFSPA won’t come in the way of IPC/ RPC and the action will be taken,” said bureaucrat-turned-politician Shah Faesal.