SMC demolishes traffic booths in Srinagar after vehicle challan

SRINAGAR — Police on Tuesday arrested three employees of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for allegedly assaulting traffic policemen who had issued a challan for violating the Motor Vehicle Act. The Corporation has also suspended two employees, calling their behavior unbecoming on part of a civil servant and ordered a time-bound inquiry into the incident.

“An incident has come to notice wherein one SMC employee aggrieved by challan on not having HSRP, came back and broke a traffic booth with others, later assaulted traffic personnel on duty. In this regard, FIR has been registered in Shergari Police Station against three delinquent SMC employees,” the Srinagar Police tweeted.

All three accused employees, the police said, were formally arrested after following legal formalities. “The three had also kidnapped the traffic personnel in a car after creating a ruckus. FIR No. 06/2023 stands registered in Shergari Police Station,” it added.

Meanwhile, SMC placed the two employees under suspension. “It has come to the notice of competent authority that Mr. Niyaz Ahmad Gabroo I/C Ward Officer, Ward No. 30 and Ovais Farooq Khan, Tax Assistant, Ward 30 have indulged in conduct, which is unbecoming on part of a civil servant. Pending inquiry into the matter, Mr. Niyaz Ahmad Gabroo I/C Ward Officer, Ward No. 30 and Mr. Ovais Farooq Khan, Tax Assistant, Ward 30 are put under suspension with immediate effect and shall remain attached in the office of Secretary, Srinagar Municipal Corporation,” reads a suspension order issued by Joint Commissioner SMC.

The police as well as SMC’s action followed as videos of a heated argument between the traffic police personnel and the Corporation employees have been widely circulated on social media here.

“Ghulam Hassan Mir, Joint commissioner Planning SMC, shall do the detailed inquiry and submit a report within seven days,” the order added.

In the videos, the traffic cops can be seen asking the SMC employees for the notice of demolition before they remove the purported encroachment.