Firozabad municipal commissioner seeks transfer after ‘death threat’ by BJP MLA

AGRA: In a letter to the government, the

Firozabad municipal commissioner

has sought a transfer from the district citing threats from BJP MLA

Manish Asija

. This is the second such incident where a government official has accused Asija of issuing threats to them. Earlier, the district hospital’s sole orthopedic doctor Shashi Kumar had resigned from his post levelling serious allegations against Asija. In a letter to the director general, medical and health services, Kumar said he had been facing threat to life from MLA for refusing to make disabled certificates for undeserving persons on several occasions.

Municipal commissioner

Kamlesh Kumar Singh

has alleged that on Saturday morning, when he reached

Charbagh area

where people had been staging a protest over a non-operational tubewell, BJP MLA Asija who was present at the site started abusing him in full public view.

“Asija kept me abusing for an hour, with unprintable words. He also gave me death threats. I thought of committing suicide after going through that public humiliation. I am fearful that he might get me murdered also. I have written to the government seeking a transfer. The MLA is trying to put unnecessary pressure on me,” Singh told media after the incident.

“I do not understand why he has so much of interest in the municipal corporation. What am I posted here for? The MLA gets all projects passed through his own office. He is getting roads built at those places where it is not required,” added Singh. Later in the day, he complained of chest pain and was admitted to the district hospital.

Singh further alleged that he was being tortured by Asija from the moment he joined the office here. He added that in the past he was abused by the MLA after being called to his house on three occasions. “I am being accused of not paying salaries to labourers and sanitation workers. In the past an investigation was going on in this matter, so salaries were stopped. Now it has been paid. It is just an excuse to harass me,” the municipal commissioner said.

Singh has written to the district magistrate seeking long leave from the department.

Samajwadi Party MLC Dilip Yadav has come out in support of the municipal commissioner. While criticizing the MLA’s behavior, Yadav said he would raise the issue in the legislative council. Yadav also sought an investigation in the ongoing matter.

Asija denied the allegations against him, saying they were baseless. “The urban development minister had also reprimanded the official during his visit to the city. Singh misbehaves with the public and the departmental staff. One can find out the truth in the present matter after talking to locals.”