Jammu- Police have registered an FIR against several unidentified persons for allegedly raising “anti-national” slogans during a rally in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Wednesday.
The slogans were incidentally raised at a rally by Gujjars and Bakerwals, held on Tuesday in the border district against a bill introduced in the parliament last week for the grant of Scheduled Tribe status to the Pahari community.
“An FIR under section 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of Indian Penal Code was registered at police station Poonch for raising anti-national slogans during the rally,” a police officer said.
Protests by Gujjars and Bakerwals gained momentum after the introduction of the bill that proposed including the Pahari ethnic group, Gadda Brahmin, Koli and Paddari in the list of Scheduled Tribes by amending the constitution (Jammu and Kashmir Scheduled Tribes order, 1989).
A video of the protest rally, purportedly showing some participants raising “pro-freedom” slogans, was circulated on social media.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Poonch, Vinay Sharma in the wake of the incident on Tuesday said “We are analysing the video through forensic experts as to whether it is real or fake and legal action shall follow accordingly So far, we could see tricolours raised high throughout the protest demonstration.”
Earlier, six prominent Gujjar leaders requested the centre to hold “participative decisions on sensitive issues” that have the potential of disturbing intercommunity relations in the Union Territory.
The joint statement on Monday was issued by former ministers Mian Altaf Ahmad Larvi (National Conference), Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali, Aijaz Ahmad Khan and former legislator Choudhary Qamar Hussain (Apni party), former deputy chairman J&K Legislative Assembly Choudhary Javed Ahmad Rana (NC), and former MLA Choudhary Mohammad Akram Lassanvi who resigned from Congress last year.
“The widespread protests by the Gujjar-Bakerwal tribe and unrest in the community across the Union Territory of J&K are grave developments. Protests by the Gujjar-Bakerwal tribe against the Union government and UT administration is an aberration and we are deeply concerned and utterly bewildered by the prevailing situation,” they had said.
The J&K unit of BJP called the statement “ridiculous, untimely and misleading” and asked the protesters what they had been objecting to when the government had already made it clear that it was not reducing the 10 per cent quota of scheduled tribes in any way.
The BJP statement from Gujjar leaders affiliated with the party said the government is taking concrete steps for the improvement and welfare of all deserving backward areas and classes.
“Now that the panchayat, local body and parliamentary elections are coming, the people fully understand the fact that the narrative of the incomprehensible thing you are making is only of a political nature and not of public interest,” the BJP statement said.
Govt Employee Attached Over ‘Hateful’ SM Post
Meanwhile a Data Entry Operator at the Zonal Education Office Sumbal, has been attached to the office of Tehsildar Sumbal in Bandipora with immediate effect.
The action comes after a report from field agencies regarding an alleged offensive social media post made by the official, potentially impacting communal harmony.
Officials in the knowhow of things told a local news agency GNS that the post-in-question is said to be in violation of Article 19(2) of the Indian Constitution, and the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules 1971.
Meanwhile, a committee, headed by the Tehsildar Sumbal, has been formed to investigate the matter and asked to submit its recommendations within a week.
Moreover, the attachment & subsequent inquiry order issued by Sub Divisional Magistrate, Sumbal, Aamir Choudhary, vide no. SDM/S/2023-24/864-69 reads,
“Consequent upon the report from the field agencies regarding an obnoxious social media post allegedly by one Mohammad Saleem Bhat Data Entry Operator, Zonal Education Office Sumbal having detrimental effect on prevalent brotherhood and peaceful situation at present which could result in animosity between sections of society.”
“That such unpleasant social media posts are in contravention to Article 19 (2) of Constitution of India which deals with the Freedom of Speech and also imposes reasonable restrictions as well.”
“Moreover, it is violative of Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules 1971 which clearly lists out the activities that are not to be carried out by the employees and are violation of the Conduct Rules and can be punished under Rule 30 of the Jammu And Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules 1956 and the Rule 30 states punishments namely: i) Censure ii) fine not exceeding one month’s pay; iii) withholding of increments and/or promotion; iv) reduction to a lower post and/or a lower time-scale and/or to a lower stage in time-scale v) recovery from pay of the whole or part of any pecuniary loss caused to vi) Government by negligence or breach of orders; vii) Premature retirement on proportionate pension other than that viii) Specified in rule 226 (2) of Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations,” the order reads.
“Moreover GAD Circular No- JK (GAD) of 2023 dated 24-03-2023 makes it amply clear the Government Servant shall not engage themselves with social media in a manner which is contravention to these rules and also vehemently makes it clear that the clear the Govt employees shall not post on social media any such content or comments about co-worker or individuals that are vulgar, obscene, threatening, intimidating or that violate the conduct rules and shall refrain from indulging in unwarranted debates/discussions and sharing/commenting/posting inappropriate post/content from social media platforms and any violation of these guidelines/rules shall tantamount to misconduct and invite disciplinary action against the delinquent official under relevant rules.”
“Therefore keeping in view the sensitivity of the matter the above mentioned official namely Mohammad Saleem Bhat Data Entry Operator ZEO Sumbal is hereby attached in the office of Tehsildar Sumbal with immediate effect. Moreover a committee of three members is constituted under the chairmanship of Tehsildar Sumbal comprising: 1. Zonal Education Officer Sumbal 2. Tehsil Social Welfare Officer Sumbal. The committee shall make an inquiry and submit its report along with recommendations in the office of undersigned within a weeks’ time,” added the order issued by the SDM.
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