BAREILLY: A day after BJP district president Ravindra Rathore and scores of his followers allegedly attacked the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Nawabganj, all three additional district magistrates (ADMs), city magistrate, four additional city magistrates (ACMs)and six sub-divisional magistrates reached district magistrate (DM) RV Singh ’s residence on Saturday morning to express their anger over the incident. They also met the divisional commissioner and gave him a memorandum addressed to the chief minister and state election commissioner . Officials said that if action was not taken against Rathore within three days, they would be forced to go on strike.

In the memorandum sent on the letterhead of UP State Civil Services Association, the enraged officials stated that over the past couple of years, incidents of manhandling and misbehaviour of Provincial Civil Service (PCS) officers had been increased rapidly.

“The government is informed every time immediately after such incidents. Due to inaction at the government level, such incidents are continuously taking place. This has affected morale, enthusiasm and dedication of officers,” the letter read.

After receiving the complaint from the senior district officials, the DM said if BJP leaders had some grievances regarding the counting process, they had a platform to raise the matter before the State Election Commission.

“Taking the law in hand can’t be justified. We have lodged an FIR against the BJP district president and others for attacking our officer and informed the government as well as the Election Commission about the incident,” RV Singh said.

After meeting commissioner PV Jaganmohan, ADM (finance) Jagat Pal Singh said that it was an attack on the bureaucracy and district officials would go on strike if the accused were not arrested.

“Counting had been over and the results were out when BJP candidate Premlata Rathore and her brother-in-law and party district president Ravindra started mounting pressure for recounting. On being refused this, they attacked SDM Rajesh Kumar. Police gave him cover and took him away from the assailants,” ADM Singh said.

ADM (city) OP Singh said, “We want stern action not only against Rathore but against those police officials also who allowed people to enter the counting centre without having authorised passes. If the named accused are not arrested, we will go on strike from December 5.”

City magistrate UP Singh told TOI that it would be the first time in UP’s history if all administrative magistrates of a district went on strike. “The matter is now with the PCS Association. During my service, I have never heard of the entire administration of a district going on strike before,” he added.

