BWJA accuses NT Sumbal of humiliating scribe

BANDIPORA — Journalist body here in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district accused a Revenue official of ‘misbehaving’ and ‘humiliating’ a scribe during a Back To Village event that was supervised by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

Sinha arrived at Nesbal Sumbal area of Bandipora district to initiate Back To Village programme in the Block. A reporter working with a news agency managed to reach the ‘fortified’ venue; however, incumbent Naib Tehsildar Sumbal Hadayatullah Mir allegedly dragged him out from the venue and humiliated the scribe in front of hundreds of people.

“We fail to understand since when this Revenue official started acting as a security officer. When police and other officials had no problem with the presence of the journalist, why Naib Tehsildar was furious and misused his official powers,” Bandipora Working Journalists Association (BWJA) said.

The Association appealed LG Manoj Sinha to initiate action against the officer.

“The height of arrogance of this officer is that he forced media personnel to sit with the public and for this reason, they were unable to perform their duties freely,” the Association said.

“How can I do this? I am a Magistrate and I can’t misbehave with any journalist. Yes, it is true, earlier we didn’t allow scribes but they were later allowed after we got consent from the SDM,” he said and flatly refuted the charges.