The district administration Anantnag is verifying the contents of a video wherein a former judge turned National Conference leader is heard advocating violence against the forest department employees.
“The contents of the video are being verified. Whatever action is required under the model code of conduct will be taken,” DC Anantnag Khalid Jehangir told Greater Kashmir.
He said once the veracity of the video is ascertained the call on action will be taken.
On Thursday a video showing former district session judge Anantnag Syed Tauqeer provoking a group of locals in a Kokernag village to attack the forest department employees and “chop the hands and feet of the forest department employees if they dare to close their roads” went viral on social media
“I have been told that the forest department is closing your roads. Now you have my permission and if any of them (forest employees) comes again chop their hands and feet and tell them that NC’s nominated candidate has given you the permission,” Syed Tauqeer can be heard telling his workers.
The former judge opted for voluntary retirement to join NC and is seeking mandate from Breng-Kokernag assembly constituency.
The NC leader made the remarks while addressing a roadside gathering in Matribugh village.
DFO Anantnag, Feroze Ahmad Chat, said that Chief Conservator Forests (South) has taken up the issue with District Election Officer (DEO) Anantnag.
NC on its Twitter handle said: “We have seen the video of Syed Tauqeer Ahmad, JKNC segment in-charge Kokernag. The party does not endorse this sort of language on these sorts of threats. Syed Tauqeer has been spoken to and advised to exercise more care when choosing his words. We have been assured by him that this was a momentary lapse in the heat of the moment and will not be repeated. We hope the matter is allowed to end here.”
The tweet was re-tweeted by NC vice-president Omar Abdullah.