The Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Kitchloo, on Thursday reportedly lost his cool and slapped Chief Executive Officer of Kishtwar Development Authority (KDA) not once but thrice ahead of the arrival of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for a public rally in Kishtwar.
The shocking incident overshadowed the visit of the Chief Minister to the landlocked district as the entire district administration went into tizzy and launched a damage control exercise.
Many senior police and State Government officers too were embarrassed as the Minister slapped the officer in the conference room of Tourist Reception Centre in Kishtwar.
As the MoS Home reached Tourist Reception Centre to take stock of the arrangements ahead of the Chief Minister’s visit in the area, the CEO was called by the District Development Commissioner to rush to the venue.
As he came rushing towards the conference hall, he came face to face with the Minister and was told by the Minister, “What do you think of your self”. (Aap apne aap ko kya samajhte ho). “I simply informed him I was busy in making arrangements and nothing else.” As the officer was still responding, the Minister reportedly caught hold of him and slapped him thrice.
According to the eyewitness reports, the officer too showed some resistance and asked the Minister, “What the hell you are doing”. What is the reason, why you are slapping me.”
After an ugly spat between the two, the officer was escorted by the security personnel present on duty and efforts were made on behalf of the Minister to pacify the Government servant.
Till late Thursday evening the officer stood his ground and insisted on lodging an FIR against the alleged behaviour of the Minister.
Speaking to the media in his office chambers, CEO Riaz Ahmad Choudhary said, “I want to know whether the Constitution has given an authority to the Minister to slap a Government servant, if not, then I am going to file an FIR against him so that he
can explain as to why he slapped me.”
The officer alleged, “After the Minister slapped me his security personnel started beating me up. They could have killed me also.” The Minister was even shouting, “Arrest him, arrest him. He could have said shoot this man and they could have killed me.” He said, “I am fortunate enough I am sitting in front of you and sharing my ordeal.”
He said as a junior rank officer he was not supposed to be present to receive the Minister. He said, “I am CEO and I was busy making necessary arrangements in view of the Chief Minister’s visit as per the directions received from the District Development Commissioner.”
Meanwhile, official sources in the Kishtwar Development Authority claimed that the CEO had submitted a written complaint in the local police station of Kishtwar seeking registration of an FIR against Sajjad Kitchloo and others vide letter no CEO/KDA/13/857/63 DATED 18-04-2013. The copy of the complaint has been marked by the CEO to the State Chief Secretary, Commissioner Secretary Tourism, DIG Doda range, Divisional Commissioner Jammu and DDC Kishtwar and Special Assistant to Tourism Minister.