A revenue official has landed up in trouble after an elderly man lodged a complaint against him for allegedly slapping him during a scuffle over a dispute in Simulia in Baleswar district, a video of which has gone viral on social media.

The accused, identified as Simulia Tehsildar Biswanath Biswal, had gone with other revenue officials to settle a land discord when the incident occurred.

The victim Mir Habib was admitted in the Simulia Community Health Centre after he suffered minor injuries.

As per reports, there was an ongoing conflict between Mir Habib and Mir Mustakim of Bari panchayat over two-decimal land and the case was being heard in the Soro Munsiff court for the last three years.

After Mustakim’s death, his sons Mir Chunu and Mir Matim used to go the Collector’s office seeking help of the district administration to resolve the dispute alleging that Habib had encroached upon their land.

On September 22, on the district administration’s directions, a team of eight district administration officials including Tehsildar Biswal, Revenue Inspectors of Markona and Bari and Simulia police had gone to the village to evict the encroacher. However, a scuffle broke out after Habib put up a strong opposition stating that the court order was still pending. As the matter got uglier, t he tehsildar reportedly slapped Habib and pushed him. As he fell to the ground and was hurt, some onlookers captured the incident on their mobile phones.

Later, after Habib got preliminary treatment at the CHC, he filed a police complaint against Biswal accusing him of physical assault. He also accused police and other officials of turning mute spectators as none of them came to his rescue and said he would approach the Human Rights Commission to seek justice.