The sub-divisional magistrate of Meerganj tehsil in this region has been relieved of his duties following the emergence of a video in which he is purportedly shown instructing a man to perform squats as a form of punishment within his office.
The individual had visited the SDM's office to register a complaint about an alleged encroachment on a cremation ground. Allegedly, the official instructed him to perform a "murga bano" (squatting while holding both ears) as a penalty. A video capturing this incident went viral on Friday. On Saturday, Saumya Agarwal, the Divisional Commissioner of Bareilly, announced the initiation of an investigation into the matter.
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Shivakant Dwivedi, the District Magistrate of Bareilly, stated that preliminary evidence suggests a lack of diligence on the part of SDM Udit Pawar, who has since been reassigned to the district headquarters. Desh Deepak Singh has assumed the role of Bareilly SDM in place of Pawar. Pawar has refuted all allegations, asserting that the complainant voluntarily chose to perform the squats.
"I did not ask any complainant to squat. The youth who came to my office squatted on his own as he entered my room. His friends took photographs and made videos, and then made those videos viral." "I assured them that the matter will be probed by the tehsildar, and action will be taken if any encroachment of cremation ground is found," Pawar added, as reported by PTI
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The complainant has alleged that when he and several villagers approached SDM Pawar to address the purported encroachment issue in Mandanpur village, Pawar became irate and insulted them. He then reportedly instructed one of them to perform squats as a form of punishment.
According to the villagers from Mandanpur village, they claim that the cremation ground has been encroached upon by certain members of the Muslim community. They contend that the only alternative to the cremation ground is conducting last rites on the banks of the Ramganga river. However, this option is currently unavailable due to the river being in a swollen state.
On Friday, villagers, including individuals named Ramkumar, Puranlal, Dharampal, Gedan Lal, and Pappu Lodhi, submitted a memorandum to SDM Pawar regarding this matter. In response, they were informed that action would be taken based on a report from the tehsildar.
Lodhi stated that when they expressed their frustration about the delay in taking action, the SDM became upset, instructed the villagers to vacate the room, and directed one of them to perform squats as a disciplinary measure.
