Srinagar:
Many casual labourers were wounded in a scuffle with officials at the office of the Executive Engineer Right River Circular Road Division Srinagar when the Casual labourers claimed that the salary cheques issued by the Executive Engineer were dishonoured by the Treasury Officer.
Eyewitnesses told CNS that dozens of Casual Labourers assembled in the office premises of Executive Engineer (R&B) at Kak Sarai Srinagar and raised slogans against the Executive Engineer. According to Casual labourers the AEE present there thrashed some of the Casual Labourers that agitated others who entered into a scuffle with some of the officials.
“Despite working hard for the department, we were deprived of our wages. The Executive Engineer who is a protected person had directed us to get police verification which could prove that we were not part of any protest or stone-pelting incident. He issued this order just to deprive us from our salaries,” the Casual labourers said.
They said that they approached higher authorities who made it clear that they have not issued any circular with regard to police verification. “The Executive Engineer wanted to deprive us from our earned salaries despite the fact Department has made funds available to him. After our repeated protests, he issued salary cheques in our favour but those were not honoured by the Treasury officer,” they said and alleged that the Executive Engineer Right River Circular Road Division Srinagar has been harassing them on the one or the other pretext.
When contacted a top official from Roads and Buildings Department said that no circular pertaining to police verification has been issued by the department.
Executive Engineer Nayeem Ahmed Khan against whom Casual Labourers staged protest said that the department is short of funds. He refuted the allegations that he has ever sought police verification from these Casual Labourers. (CNS)
