By Majid Nabi
Srinagar- Police have arrested an officer of Floriculture department in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district for allegedly ‘provoking’ three daily wagers to take an extreme step of ‘attempted’ self immolation.
Reliable sources told Kashmir Observer that three daily wagers of the floriculture department tried self immolation on Monday, following their transfer to the tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir.
The incident, sources said, triggered massive protests in the area with protesters blocking the main road, and demanding exemplary punishment to the accused officer. However a police team instantly reached the spot and assured protesters that action as per law will be taken against the guilty.
Confirming arrest of the officer, a police official said, three persons working as daily wagers at Botanical Garden Kokernag were shifted to the hospital after they attempted self immolation.
“The trio was shifted to nearby hospital for treatment and later referred to the Sub-District Hospital Kokernag, wherein condition of one of the three daily wagers is stated to be critical,” he added.
He said, the accused officer was arrested and a formal case was registered against him at the concerned police station under relevant sections of law.
An official of the Botanical garden Kokernag told Kashmir Observer that the incident took place after the officer, despite requests by the respectable people including Sarpanch of the area, refused to revoke the transfer order and asked the trio to report at Pahalgam immediately, or else they will be terminated.
The Trio, he said sprinkled kerosene on their bodies and attempted self immolation, before the onlookers arrived at the spot and took them to the hospital for treatment.
They have been identified as Zakir Hussain Shakhsaz and Arshid Ahmad Yatoo, both residents of Bidar Kokernag and Bilal Ahmad Tantray of Watlahar Kokernag.
Meanwhile, the Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) has condemned the incident and sought thorough probe into to ascertain the cause behind taking such an extreme step by three daily wagers.
Talking to Kashmir Observer, EJAC President, Fayaz Shabnam said action must be taken against the guilty for provoking poor daily wagers for self immolation.
“We condemn the incident and demand exemplary punishment to the accused and at the same time appealed to the police to thoroughly investigate the matter to bring facts to fore,” Shabnam added.
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