Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
To press the demand for a contract job, an RPI office-bearer tried to end his life by pouring kerosene on his body in the office of the Executive Director (ED) of Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation (GMIDC) on Monday evening. He also tried to create a commotion by lying on the ground in front of the official vehicle of the ED. To protest against the incident, the GMIDC staff observed a pen-down agitation on the campus. Besides, they met the commissioner of police (CP) and demanded strict action against the political office-bearer.
The memorandum stated that the ED Santosh Tirmanwar was present in his official cabin at Sinchan Bhavan on Monday evening. The office-bearer of RPI Youth Morcha’s Jaikishan Kamble along with activists barged into the office. He demanded the ED to give the contract work. Tirmanwar told him that the issue does not come under his jurisdiction. This angered him and Kamble took out a bottle and poured kerosene on him in the cabin. The security guard tried to control him. In this scuffle, the kerosene got split on Tirmanwar and the security guard as well. Later on, when the ED stepped out to go in his official vehicle, Kamble and his activists laid down in front of the vehicle and prevented him from going. This prevailed sensation among officers and personnel.
It is learnt that previously also Kamble had abused the executive director in his cabin by using unparliamentary words and for want of work. The memorandum submitted to the CP further stated that Kamble had threatened to file an atrocity case against ED if he did not provide him with work.
Strike by officers and employees
In protest of this incident, officers and employees went on a strike on Monday. A delegation of officers and employees met with the CP on Tuesday. They submitted a memorandum demanding action against Kamble. The delegation included Superintending Engineers Rajendra Dhodapkar and Samadhan Sabbinwar, Executive Engineer Sachin Patil, Accounts Officers K B Dhotre, K H Rajput, Rukhiya Begum, Anil Bhonde, and other employees.
Police security to ED
After meeting the delegation, the CP ordered the provision of security for three police personnel to the Executive Director. Immediately thereafter, security was provided by the Police Commissionerate.
Case filed against Kamble
The GMIDC officers and employees met the CP on Tuesday afternoon, where a complaint was lodged. They expressed frustration about working under constant pressure from local representatives' activists and union leaders who frequently visited for contract-related matters. After a complaint by the department's constable Anna Zharekar, a case was registered against Jaikishan Kamble and his five accomplices under sections 308 (2), 132, 125, 126(2), 189(2), 190, and 190(2) of the BNS at the Jawarnagar Police Station, said the police inspector Ashok Sharmale.