Agitated with the alleged assault on five home guards by District Magistrate of Bahraich Abhay Singh, their colleagues went on a strike demanding action against the officer.
The DM reportedly beat up home guards posted at his official residence after the theft of two sandalwood trees. The home guards alleged that on Monday night, the DM chased them around his bungalow with a stick and severely beat up five of them in the presence of Home Guard Commandant
Rajendra Singh.
The DM charged them with theft of two sandalwood trees from his residence. The Home Guards also alleged that they were suspended by the Commandant atthe insistence of the DM. The DM however denied the allegations levelled by the home guards.
The DM claimed that it was an attempt to divert attention from charges of theft against the home guards. He said that he found two sandalwood trees axed within the bungalow campus on Monday night and summoned the home guard commandant as its security is looked after by 21 home guards.
State president of Home Guard Sangh Mukesh Dwivedi, who led the protest at the Bahraich collectorate, threatened to go on state-wide strike if their demands were not met soon.
“The home guards have demanded an FIR against the DM and his removal as well as proper treatment for the five, who were beaten up,” Dwivedi said.
Divisional Home Guard Commandant KN Misra, who rushed to the district, said that all five suspended home guards have been reinstated and efforts were on to pacify the protesters.
SP Saligram Verma said that an FIR has been filed against the five home guards for theft of sandalwood trees on Thursday and investigations are on.