Jammu, May 15: Netizens from across Jammu & Kashmir, cutting across ideological and faith lines, have joined a chorus in demanding legal action against the officials of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) who reportedly assaulted a young Kashmiri Pandit mercilessly for standing by poor Redi Walas whose polythene bags were being destroyed by the officials in Jammu city on Saturday.
The entire incident was caught on camera live by a social media portal Jammu-Ladakh Vision, the video of which has gone viral since then.
The incident happened on Saturday at Indra Chowk in Jammu city when JMC officials raided the market and destroyed the polythene bags of vegetable and fruit sellers selling their products on carts.
As the action was going on, one Ravinder Kumar Pandita, a migrant Kashmiri Pandit, who was buying vegetables there, seemingly felt hurt by the action against the vegetables sellers there.
According to eye witnesses and the video shot by the said news portal, Mr Pandita advised the JMC officials that they should seize and take action against the factories that are producing polythene bags rather than targeting poor vegetable sellers who do not understand the technicalities of microns of polythene bags.
However, this had irked the JMC officials who let lose on Mr Pandita and started assaulting him. As per the incident video, the officials used immensely derogatory language against Mr Pandita, calking him a “trouble maker from Srinagar”, among other accusations. One of the officials even hit Mr Pandita’s head with a wooden object.
Mr Pandita was miraculously saved by two journalists there, and was later taken by the police.
As soon as the video went viral, netizens started calling out the JMC officials for this act and demanded legal action against them.
Apni Party Youth Wing State General Secretary Abhay Bakaya has demanded strict action against the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) officials who were involved in assaulting and injuring Mr Pandita on May 13th.
In a statement to the press, Mr Abhay said that the incident in which 8 to 10 JMC officials had beaten up the innocent migrant was shocking.
“The innocent KP man had advised the JMC officials that they should seize the factory that is producing polythene bags and sell it in the markets. Pandita had objected to the harassment of the rehriwalas at Indra Chowk in a polite manner, but he was responded with brutality and objectionable remarks,” he said.
In the backdrop of the incident, he expressed serious concern and demanded strict action against the erring JMC officials for discriminating against the civilian being a Kashmiri Migrant.
He said that the LG should also look into the issue and seek a report as to how Govt officials can abuse a civilian without provocation and take law into their hands.
“The KP has sustained multiple injuries and he shall be provided justice by punishing the accused officials,” he added.
Meanwhile, JKNC leader & Addl Spokesperson Umesh Talashi has condemned the incident.
“Strongly condemn the goondaism of @jmcjammu officials who attacked a Kashmiri Pandit Ravinder Ji with blows and lathis, just because he asked them few questions. I urge HLG @manojsinha_ to take cognisance of matter & initiate an action on such gundas. @AvnyLavasa. He further said such an irresponsible approach from Govt officials is highly unacceptable & authorities must immediately suspend the officials involved.”
Popular news portal of Jammu, The Straight Line, while analysing the incident on Sunday had expressed its concern and anquish at the lack of legal action and impunity for the officials involved in the assault.
Quoting a senior JMC official saying that a small incident like this does not entail any action, and that any action could result in closure of Jammu city, its editor in chief urged the LG administration to not let the issue by swept under the carpet and to let justice prevail.
Reproducing the video on his social media account, Rocky Koul, a prominent social activist, observed, “these are goons of JMC and how dare they hit him… What action has police and JMC administration taken till now against these gunda mawalis?”.
As per the last reports, an FIR has been filed by J&K Police on the matter and investigations are on.
JMC officials could not be reached for their version of the incident.
