Poor Widow Accuses SMC Ward Officer Of ‘Harassment’

Srinagar, Jan 1: Believe it or not, a Ward Officer from Srinagar Municipal Corporation forced a poor widow to arrange Rs 5,500 to cut five poplar trees in her house premises at Pirbagh area of Srinagar city.

“Ward Officer of Ward 33 harassed me on daily basis even though the court as well as Deputy Commissioner Srinagar had directed SMC Srinagar to chop down these poplar trees,” said Hafeeza Begum to news agency CNS.

She said that a couple of days back, a team of SMC led by Ward Officer arrived at her house. “I for a moment thought that the team had arrived to cut down poplar trees but to my surprise they were empty handed. The Ward Officer forced me to pay Rs 5,500 for the ‘cutter’ which I somehow arranged for him,” she said.

Hafeeza Begum said that they chop down five poplar trees only after receiving money from her. “It was the duty and responsibility of authorities to cut down those trees but the SMC fleeced me,” she added.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Syed Abid Rashid said that he will investigate the matter. “It is the job of Forest Department that should have done through concerned Tehsildar,” he added.

Ward Officer, Muhammad Ramzan Ganaie said that SMC don’t keep cutters to chop down the trees. “The allegations are baseless as I didn’t demand any money from the woman,” he added.(CNS)