Bhat Yasir
On Monday, the third day of the new year, an anti-encroachment drive was launched by Municipal Council, Baramulla in the town. However, the video of the ‘encroachment drive’ carried by the government employees surfaced over social media and met with harsh criticism from netizens as employees were seen destroying the food that the vendors were selling on their vending vehicles.
President of MC Baramulla while calling the act ‘cruel’ tendered a public apology to the affected persons. In a Facebook post, he said that ‘nothing can compensate for the hurt and humiliation these poor people have metered out with’.
“I regret an unfortunate incident involving some municipal employees in Baramulla town with street vendors. I know nothing can compensate for the hurt and humiliation these poor people have meted out with: It’s cruel, shocking beyond words. My apologies to the affected persons, and I assure them full support from our side for the losses they’ve suffered. Such misbehavior and ill-treatment with people —won’t be tolerated at any cost,” he wrote on social networking site Facebook.
Jammu Kashmir’s renowned journalist Yusuf Jameel while reacting on the matter tweeted, “Regarding Baramulla vandalism, all one can say is ; ‘Khuda ganjay ko nakhun n’a dey’. Yes, there should be no encroachment along the roads and pathways but there are other ways and means of ensuring law is respected and inconvenience to public avoided.”
Regarding Baramulla vandalism, all one can say is ; 'Khuda ganjay ko nakhun n'a dey'. Yes, there should be no encroachment along the roads and pathways but there are other ways and means of ensuring law is respected and inconvenience to public avoided.
— YusufJameelیوسف جمیل (@jameelyusuf) January 4, 2022
Pertinently, a social activist from Tangmarg, Baramulla, Aadil Nazir Khan tweeted, “Who is this Nonsense officer of Baramulla Municipal Corporation. Requesting @DCBaramulla to take strict action against him otherwise I will go for mass Protest against him… This is totally unacceptable.”
Here are some of the other tweets
What kind of Drive is this ,Did anyone ask these vendors if they had dinner to feed their family today. https://t.co/sTW0rkumFq
— Syed Shahriyar (@shahriyarsyed1) January 3, 2022
Is this action! injustice with the sellers…this isnt their duty to demolish food items……#kashmir pic.twitter.com/OHmeayLDSR
— Unique Stranger (@hazuriwala) January 3, 2022
Muncipal Counsil Baramulla in action tough massage to fruit vendors who occupied footpaths and Roads.
Removing encroachment is good but harassing anyone is not good
Acton against such officer needed pic.twitter.com/gNmMTS2nDZ
— Aazan Manzoor (آزان منظور) (@AazanManzoor1) January 3, 2022
Meanwhile, the Director of Urban Local Bodies Kashmir has ordered the suspension of all the employees who were involved in the brutal action.