Probe ordered probe into sexual harassment charges agaisnt Director Health Kashmir

Anantnag, October 28: On the directions of Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat Office, Health and Medical Education Department on Wednesday ordered a probe into sexual harassment charges against Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Samir Mattoo.

Lieutenant Governor’s Principal Secretary Nitishwar Kumar (IAS) has written to Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education to get the allegations probed by ‘Internal Complaint Committee’ and submit a report within 7 days. He has also stayed the transfer order of the female consultant, who was transferred to SDH Kunzar by the incumbent Director Health without following norms.

The ‘Internal Complaint Committee’ which has been constituted to probe into sexual harassment complaints in the Health Department is headed by Satvir Kour Sudan-Director General P&S, Health and Medical Education Department and its members are Dr Samia Rashid, Principal Government Medical College Srinagar, Dr Reenu Sharma, Director Health Services, Jammu.

As per reports, a female consultant has leveled serious charges of sexual harassment against incumbent Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Samir Mattoo in Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat Office.

“That suddenly, on 13th December I received a call from him at 8:30 PM when he was drunk. He started with some nonsense about some obscure drug list, in reply to which I repeatedly told him that I had no such list. However, he was repeatedly pleading with me to call him. ‘…..Mujhe Phone Karana’ were his precise words. I was curt with him and I dropped the phone when he used unparliamentarily language. However, instead of feeling ashamed of his act, he started bullying me and harassing me from the very next day,” reads the complaint, a copy of which lies with this reporter 

The Complainant, who is working as Consultant MCH in Directorate of Health Services from past 23 years, has stated in her complaint that she was working as Epidemiologist Kashmir and State TB Officer when Dr Samir Mattoo assumed the charge of Director Health Services Kashmir.

In her long letter, the Complainant has cited multiple incidents when she was harassed by Dr Samir Mattoo.

“In retaliation, on 15th December 2019, he issued an order removing me from the post of Nodal Officer, National Tobacco Control Program,” she alleges.

The Complainant has said that when she didn’t oblige him, he withdrew her official vehicle for no rhyme or reason. She alleges that the accused would often force her to meet in his office and would insist her to stay with him without any reason. “Why can’t you sit in my office? Can’t you sit with me for ten minutes, he would plead.

She has stated that Director once made her wait outside SKICCC un-necessarily for hours in chilly weather and even forced her to report at his Gupkar based official residence.   

The Complainant has stated that she was forced by his regular harassment and hostile behavior to leave a new building, though it was equipped with all the facilities.

 “Interestingly, Dr Samir Mattoo was repeatedly asking me to go and meet higher officers in Secretariat whenever, I had a chance to visit Jammu,” she alleges in the compliant.

She says when the Director crossed the limits, she applied for the post of Surveillance Medical Officer in WHO and had been accepted. “My salary there was around 1.13 lakh rupees, which is far less what I am drawing from the current job. But the harassment was so distressing that I was ready to leave. Dr Mattoo didn’t relieve me and I think he wanted to ensure that I suffer utter humiliation so that I don’t speak against him and comply.”

  The Complainant has said that after the  Covid-19 pandemic breakout, Director Health Services Kashmir works from his Gupkar based home and he ensures that anyone who has some work must visit his home. “He even demoted me,” she has stated.

  “He is trying to harass me mentally and trying to destroy my career using his superior position to threaten me because I didn’t succumb to his unwelcome behavior. I feel unsafe working in the hostile environment in the department and there is great danger to my dignity and well-being and it is again requested to take this complaint seriously and stringent action be initiated against this man (Samir Mattoo) who has muddied the name and stature of Director Health Services,” reads her compliant. 

Anantnag: 56 Contacts of COVID-19 Positive Case traced, quarantined

SAAHIL SUHAIL

ANANTNAG, Apr 17: In Anantnag, the authorities have traced around fifty-six (56) contacts of COVID-19 Positive Case and shifted them to a separate quarantine center.
A 41 years old man from Nowgam village of Shnagus Anantnag had tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday (14th of April 2020). As per the reports, the administration swung into action and started tracing his contacts as the person, who tested Positive COVID-19, had violated the rules of home quarantine.

Anantnag | COVID Positive person spent only 4 days in administrative quarantine!

Anantnag |
COVID Positive person spent only 4 days in administrative quarantine!

‘Was allowed to move home without testing’

Saahil Suhail

Anantnag, April 09: In brazen violation of COVID19 protocol, two persons, who tested positive for coronavirus in South Kashmir’s in Anantnag and Kulgam district on Thursday, has spent only 4 days in administrative quarantine at Kokernag.
The infected person, who had directly came in contact with a deceased coronavirus infected person, were also allowed to move home without being tested.

In 16 days, GMC Anantnag collects 12 samples, faces shortage of safety gears

SAAHIL SUHAIL
Early Times Report

ANANTNAG, Mar 30: The slow pace of testing can be gauged from the fact the Government Medical College Anantnag has collected just twelve samples in last sixteen days, however the authorities defend slow pace saying the persons under hospital and administrative quarantine are asymptotic.
The Associated Hospital of Government Medical College Anantnag also faces shortage of safety gears including Personnel Protection Equipment and N95 masks.

Municipal Council Anantnag: ugly fight between President and Executive Officer escalates

Saahil Suhail

Early Times Report

Anantnag, May 14: The on-going ugly fight between President and Executive Officer of Municipal Council Anantnag escalated after newly elected councilors accused later of hatching conspiracy against elected body.

They also sought his removal by saying that he (Executive Officers) and other senior officers in bureaucracy were defeating Governor’s aim of ‘strengthening democracy at grass root’.

Hilal Ahmad Shah, State Congress General Secretary and President Municipal Council Anantnag alleged that in last four to five weeks, since the Parliament Election scheduled was announced, he observed that the Officers of Municipal Council Anantnag, District Administration and at Provincial level started unnecessarily interference in the functioning of the council and used various means to undermine the authority of the council in general and the elected President in particular.

Jaish Militant arrested in Anantnag, Two others apprehended in Ramban

Saahil Suhail 

Early Times Report

Anantnag, May 13: Security forces on Monday arrested a militant of Jaish-e- Muhammad outfit from Panzoo-Verinag area of Anantnag district during a cordon and serach operation. 

According to reports, Forces had launched a serach and cordon operation in Panzoo village of Verinag and apprehended a local militant affilated with Jaish-e-Mohmmad militant outfit. 

Anantnag police while confirmed the arrested of militant and identified him as Hilal Ahmad son of Ali Mohammad Mir of Panzoo village in verinag.

Committee framed to probe irregularities at MC Anantnag

Saahil Suhail

Early Times Report

Anantnag, May 13: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir on Monday constituted a three member committee to probe alleged irregularities that have surfaced at Municipal Committee Anantnag.

In this regard, an order vide Number DivCom/Dev/46/2019/1964 dated 13-05-2019 was issued by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan on Monday. Additional District Development Commissioner Anantnag will head the committee while as District Treasury Officer Anantnag and Executive Engineer PDD Anantnag will be the members of the committee.

In his order, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir states that his office has received large number of complaints with regard to purchase of various items for offices of Anantnag Municipal Committee.

Mega Building Permission scam surfaces in Anantnag Municipal Council

State exchequer suffers heavy loss due to illegal construction

Saahil Suhail

Early Times Report

Anantnag, May 14: A mega Building Permission scam has surfaced in Anantnag Municipal Council in which officials of Urban Local Bodies Kashmir have allowed hundreds of constructions without following the rules and regulations, Early Times learnt on Tuesday.

According to reports, the officials have even allowed constructions on state land and on river banks in violations norms. They said that the construction multi-story shopping complexes across the district have been allowed illegally. “On KP Road, officials of Anantnag Municipal Committee have allowed the construction of a multi-story shopping complex on state land,” they said.

Sources also revealed that the officers have allegedly received huge kickbacks for allowing construction of these shopping complexes and other commercial structures along Khanbal-Pahalgam road and in others areas of the town particularly in newly constructed by-pass connecting Jangalatmandi with Anantnag-Mehnadi Kadal road.

South Kashmir transporters call shutdown on May 14 against toll tax

Saahil Suhail

Early Times Report

Anantnag, May 12: The transporter unions operating in southern Kashmir on Sunday called for a complete shutdown on Tuesday (May 14) against levying of toll tax by National Highways Authority of India on Srinagar-Jammu highway at Kachkoot Sangam.

The Kachkoot Sangam toll post was made operational by National Highways Authority of India last week by collecting toll tax from all private and commercial vehicles.

According to reports, on Sunday various transport Associations held a meeting in Anantnag under the banner of South Kashmir Transporters Association and discussed the issue.

Bilal Ahmad Dar, who heads Sumo and Temp owners Union told media that it was unanimously decided to call for a one day shutdown on May 14 against the levying of toll tax at Kachkoot Sangam toll post.

Miscreants damage KP family’s apple orchard in Anantnag

Saahil Suhail

Early Times Report

Anantnag, May 11: In a shocking incident, miscreants have allegedly damaged apple orchard of a Kashmiri Pandit family in Akura-Mattan village of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

As per reports and videos that have appeared on social media sites, several fruit bearing apple trees have been damaged by the miscreants’ during the intervening night. Branches of apple trees have been chopped, villagers told Early Times.

They said that apple orchard belongs to a Kashmir Pandit Aajay Raina and is spread over six kanals of land.

“We demand a probe as this incident has shocked us all and defamed us,” villagers said.

Illegally raised shops demolished in Kulgam by Revenue, MC Kulgam

Saahil Suhail

Early Times Report

Kulgam, May 11: Revenue Department and Municipal Committee Kulgam on Saturday demolished several structures that were being constructed without adhering to procedure

According to official reports, structures (shops) were being constructed in Laroo Bus Stand of Kulgam on Municipal Committee Land and.

“Some people having vested interests had attempted to raise structures but today we launched a drive to demolish them,” Deputy Commissioner Kulgam told media.

He said that the illegally raised structures have been demolished completely.

Paper leak: KU exam department under scanner

Early Times Report 

Srinagar, May 11: The examination department of Kashmir University has once again come under scanner for its failure to maintain the sanctity of the exams conducted in colleges. On May 08, the question paper of English, BG second semester was leaked 17 hours ahead of scheduled time.

Students told a local news agency that the ‘A’ series of the English paper was shared on WhatsApp on the evening of May 08 while as the exam for the subject was scheduled on May 09 at 3pm. “We couldn’t believe it earlier but after we appeared in exams, we were distributed the same question paper which was shared on social media,” said a group of students from Kulgam.

Three employees suspended for causing damage to Forests in league with Smugglers

Early Times Report 

Anantnag, May 09: Three Forest department employees were placed under suspension in Lider Division of Anantag district for causing ‘ damage’ to the forests in league with smugglers.

All the three have been attached with FCR pahalgam by the Divisional Forest Officer Lidder, and a physical audit of the damages has been ordered to ascertain the intensity and the cause of the timber loot in the area.

Employees identfied as Nohamad Yousf Wagay , Ab. Rehman Padder and Mushtaq Ahmad Sheikh have been allegedly involved in the damages caused by the smugglers in their respective areas in the division prompting Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Lidder Division Dr. Mehraj Ud Din to take stern action and initiate an enquiry.