Officers of Cachar district move Dispur against Lakhipur MLA Kaushik Rai
In an unprecedented turn of events, 30 ACS officers of the Cachar district have lodged a complaint with the Chief Secretary against Lakhipur MLA Kaushik Rai
A CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR: In an unprecedented turn of events, 30 ACS officers of the Cachar district have lodged a complaint with the Chief Secretary against Lakhipur MLA Kaushik Rai for his alleged misbehavior with a few of them.
A memorandum submitted by these officers, a copy of which was sent to Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister as well as Principal Secretary Personnel (A) requested ensuring of a better working environment where their personal dignity and self-respect were not trampled upon.
The officers alleged that Rai misbehaved with Sonai Circle Officer Dr Dipankar Nath, Bikash Chetri, ALRS and Hussain Mohammad Mobin, BDO Sonai in a shameful manner in presence of Cachar's Guardian Minister Ashok Singhal. The officers further alleged that the Lakhipur MLA even said that BDO Mobin should be beaten up in the same manner as he was manhandled at his office by various party workers in March last.
During Singhal's visit last week visit to monitor the flood situation in Cachar, a few incidents of misbehaviour with the Government officials were reported. Even Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli, too, was rebuked by Singhal and Rai. Jalli had already handed over the charge of relief distribution to Zilla Parishad last Monday.
Interestingly, Rai's younger brother is the present chairman of Zilla Parishad. A reliable source in administration even hinted that an 'insulted' Jalli had expressed her willingness to leave Cachar.
On last Saturday during relief distribution at various camps in Sonai and Lakhipur, Rai allegedly misbehaved with the officers while Singhal remained as a mere spectator. Rai allegedly abused Dr Dipankar Nath as he raised question about latter's educational qualification and even raised his hand as a gesture of slapping while shouting "ek thappad marunga". Rai also allegedly taunted the officer as 'rice thieves'.
Sources said that Singhal was annoyed with the relief distribution process as a good number of people were reportedly not provided with the materials. Being quizzed by the Guardian Minister, Dr Nath reportedly clarified that the people not receiving the materials were actually not enrolled in the listed relief camps. This made the Lakhipur MLA furious and he reportedly started abusing the officers.
Later in the evening on the same day, the issue was again raised as Jalli arrived at the airport to see off Singhal. Sources said that Jalli had expressed resentment over the way her colleagues were treated. She even told the Minister that due to such misbehavior by Rai, a senior ADC as well as Executive Officer of Silchar Municipality board had gone on voluntary retirement. She even told the Minister that if the public representatives continue to behave with the Government officials in this manner then it would be difficult for her to discharge the relief distribution duty in the proper manner. Sources said that Rai then asked the Deputy Commissioner to hand over the relief distribution charge to the Zilla Parishad and Singhal endorsed the proposal.
On Monday, Jalli followed the instruction and handed over charge of relief distribution to the Zilla Parishad. In a note, she mentioned that since Zilla Parishad had better access to various places inaccessible for the administration officials, hence for proper distribution of relief materials this arrangement was done.
Meanwhile, Rai had denied all the charges levelled against him. He told mediapersons that since flood victims were not getting relief materials for five days, he asked Dr Dipankar Nath about this. "I never misbehaved with any officer. Apart from the Guardian Minister, more people were present there and if any such incident happened, it would have gone viral on social media instantaneously" he argued.
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