A resident of Tangmarg Kashmir leveled serious charges against an administrative official posted in the Tangmarg area of Baramulla district while accusing the official of manhandling him and his nephew, abusing them and getting them locked up for eight hours.
The office of the Tehsildar however has denied the allegations and said that the story is fabricated.
Fayaz Ahmed Mir from Panditpora Bala area in Tangmarg said, he had applied for an income certificate in the revenue office of Tangmarg, where the officials denied providing him a low-income certificate
“I completed all the formalities and went to the Tehsil office (Tangmarg). I submitted the file to the concerned clerks who told me that my income was very high and my children cannot be granted scholarships based on a low income,” Fayaz told The Kashmiriyat. The clerks told me that there was 7 Kanal land registered in my name, but I told them that the land was registered in the name of my father, Fayaz said.
“After this, they threw my file away and I went to the Naib Tehsildar to complain against the clerks. When I appraised him of the issue, the official ordered his clerks to verify my income. I went back after two days and they took my documents and never returned them to me,” Fayaz said.
Fayaz said that he needed the documents so he complained to the Jammu Kashmir admin’s grievance cell, who responded immediately and asked the revenue office to immediately resolve the matter. “The people in grievance cell told me to reach the Tehsil office as the official had said that I never approached him,” Fayaz told.
On April 30, 2022, When Fayaz went to the office, he said, the official shut the door and confiscated his phone and that of his nephew who was accompanying him. “Why did you complain to the grievance cell. Do you not know what are the repercussions?” the official allegedly asked Fayaz.
“He then called his clerks and accused me of stealing the file from his office and also threatened us with an FIR. When my nephew tried to argue with him, the official threw his office bell on my nephew and held him saying that he would get his (my nephew’s) shop shut. He also threatened that he would plant something in my shop and get me jailed in Central Jail,” Fayaz alleged.
After that, the official got up again and allegedly held Fayaz’s nephew and slapped Fayaz twice while hurling abuses at both of them. “He got us locked up for at least eight hours,” Fayaz said.
“I do not need anything, But such officials do not deserve to repeat such sins and then run away after such crimes,” Fayaz said while demanding action against the concerned office.
The Naib Tehsildar’s office on being contacted by The Kashmiriyat calling Fayaz’s story fabricated said, “He had kept his income certificate file with himself for around 3-4 months and then filed a complaint on LG portal. Upon verification, it came to fore that he has unauthorisedly taken the file from our office because he was not happy with the assessment done by field staff.”
The officer said that when Fayaz filed the complaint the office checked the records and could not trace his file. “As such, the office telephonically informed him about the case and he admitted that he had kept the file at his home. Thereafter, he came to my office with the file. We tried to make him understand that it was impossible to issue an Income Certificate without the file. Moreover, We informed that now since he had brought back the file, his income certificate will be issued under rules,” the official told The Kashmiriyat.
He accused Fayaz of not acknowledging his mistake and said, “Instead of realizing his mistake, he created ruckus in the office with his nephew. As such, police were called in to control the situation. Then I was contemplating taking legal action, but keeping in view the Holy Month, no action was taken against the duo except a strict warning.”
He also said that the office issues around 800 certificates in a month in a hassle-free manner. “I guess the person intentionally took the file from our office to make up an issue months later,” the official said.