Panchayat Samiti member issued notice for hurting religious sentiments of Kashmiris
A woman Panchayat Samiti member is likely to face action under the Panchayati Raj Act for abusing Muslim traders from Kashmir in the Jaisinghpur area of Kangra district and hurting their religious sentiments.
Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Berwa has issued a show-cause notice to Sushma Devi, Panchayat Samiti member from Lambagaon ward of the Jaisinghpur area in Kangra district, and sought an explanation from her within 15 days. She has been asked to give an explanation over the charge of hurting religious sentiments and trying to disturb communal harmony.
Sushma had allegedly misbehaved with a father-son duo from Pachgaon in Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir who had gone to her village to shell clothes. After the video on Sushma abusing the Kashmiri traders went viral on social media, the Lambagaon police registered a case against her.
Kashmiri traders Firdaus Ahmed Mir and his son Ali Mohammad Mir, both residents of Pachgaon in Malpura tehsil of Kupwara district, had filed a written complaint to the police against Sushma. In the complaint, they alleged that they had gone to Gandad village on November 23 to sell shawls and blankets. They were sitting in the courtyard of Ashok Kumar’s house and showing shawls and blankets for sale. Ashok Kumar’s neighbour Sushma came there and told them that “you cannot come in the area”. She then asked them to chant “Jai Shri Ram”.
They alleged that Sushma then said that “we are not from India. If we are residents of India, we should say ‘Jai Shri Ram’ once”. On the compliant of the father-son duo, the police registered a case under Section 299 and 196 (1) of the BNS and further action was being taken. The responsibility of investigation has been given to ASI Raghujit Singh.
The Deputy Commissioner said that Sushma had been issued a notice and asked to explain her conduct as under the Panchayati Raj Act, no one was allowed to hurt the religious sentiments of others.
The sources said that Sushma had apologised to the father-son duo for hurting their religious sentiments.
