“Even if consumer is not allowed to visit that place, still there is no rule to manhandle consumer“
K Koushal
In a shocking incident, an official from the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (PDD) allegedly resorted to violence when confronted by an aggrieved consumer over ‘exorbitant electricity bills’. The incident occurred at the department’s data centre, situated at Bemina, Srinagar, leaving the consumer injured and raising serious concerns about the department’s conduct.
A video in this regards is getting viral on the social media, whereas concerned officers of the department appeared tight lipped.
According to the sources, the incident involved Junior Engineer named Kounsar Malik, who reportedly lost his temper after the consumer raised questions about the unusually ‘high electricity bills’.
Witnesses say that the consumer had approached the office seeking resolution for the ongoing issue of ‘exorbitant bills’, which had been causing distress and financial strain.
“The aggrieved consumer had been harassed by the department since long and after frequent visits to concerned Sub Division, he was redirected to the data center, saying the bills are generated from the place,” said sources, adding that on reaching data center at Bemina, the situation escalated rapidly when the consumer voiced his complaints to Kounser Malik, who seemingly became agitated and unresponsive to the consumer’s legitimate concerns.
Instead of addressing the issue professionally, the official allegedly started misbehaving with the consumer, using ‘derogatory’ language and showing a complete disregard for the consumer’s grievances.
“The situation took a turn for the worse when Kounser Malik physically assaulted the consumer, resorting to physical violence to suppress the complaint,” said sources, adding that in this surcharged atmosphere, Malik also tried to snatch mobile phone of the aggrieved consumer.
Eye witnesses shared that it was more reprehensible to see how other employees present in the office remained mute spectator, rather accusing the consumer of coming with a complaint.
Meanwhile, sources in the department shared that this is not the first time that consumers have been misbehaved and manhandled by officials at data centre of the PDD.
“Earlier also such cases have been reported, especially pertaining to ‘exorbitant billing’, but instead of pacifying the matter, these officials misbehaved and manhandled the consumers,” said sources, adding that there is a monopoly of few coterie of officers, who have been disregarding public service.
Sources alleged that along with Kounser Malik, his two other colleagues have created their monopoly in the office and are allegedly involved in harassment of the consumers, besides manipulating bills as per their convenience.
“They are so influential and powerful that they have been posted in the data centre from the past more than a decade, with no apparent transfer policy implemented on them,” alleged sources, adding that overstaying at the same posting certainly makes them immune to any action, so they are ‘unaccountable’ for their actions.
Speaking to The Typewriter, Chief Engineer-Javed Yusuf Dar said that consumer should not have gone to that place, as it is highly secured place. “That is our data center and consumer is not supposed to go there for anything,” he said and added that the consumer would have visited the sub division. He maintained on instigation, employees too lose temper.
When contacted Principal Secretary, JKPDD, H Rajesh Prasad said that that it is unfortunate. “Even if consumer is not allowed to visit that place, still there is no rule to manhandle consumer,” he said and added consumer should have registered FIR in this regard. He further sought video to ascertain the facts.
