A Grade-IV employee on poll duty ‘physically abused’ in Goalpara

A Correspondent

Goalpara: At a time when State government employees engaged in poll duties are working on a war footing for successful completion of the Lok Sabha election in the State, an act of physical abuse on a grade IV employee by a civil service officer caused a furore in Goalpara district of Lower Assam on Thursday.

According to information, Suresh Rabha, a grade IV employee of the PWD and engaged in poll duty in the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) cell inside the Deputy Commissioner’s office, was allegedly slapped for a small mistake by Shyamanta Rabi Bara, Circle Officer of Rongjuli circle. The incident occurred when the general observer was busy with the Deputy Commissioner in a meeting.

The employees immediately protested against the behaviour of the officer and stopped working. They gathered at one place and began protesting. Two Additional Deputy Commissioners, Nur Hussain and Ashrumoni Malakar, tried to pacify the agitated employees and had a discussion. However, they refused to withdraw the protest without an apology by Rabi Bara himself.

Finally, Deputy Commissioner Varnali Deka intervened in the matter and took a face-to-face hearing of both of the employees. After Rabi Bara was proved wrong, the Deputy Commissioner immediately shifted him from the EVM to another cell. Later, the employees returned to work and expressed satisfaction over the prompt step taken by the Deputy Commissioner.

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