Amarpur RD Block incident: Employees write to DM, demand action

The staff of Amarpur Rural Development Block under Gomati district demanded action against a group of elected public representatives- Pradhans and Upa-Pradhans of different gram Panchayats following desecration of the National Emblem and misconduct with the Block Development Officer (BDO).

The block staff, in a collective effort, wrote a letter to the District Magistrate and Collector, Gomati expressing shock, outrage, and a sense of insecurity after the incident.

During an interaction where Public Representatives from 10 Gram Panchayats had gathered to interact regarding local development issues, a heated altercation took place in the BDO’s chamber.

There are allegations that some of the delegates aggressively and repeatedly struck the BDO’s official desk to intimidate him. In a severe act of lawlessness and criminal disrespect, the defaulter then desecrated a National Symbol by violently throwing the ‘Ashoka Stambha’ (National Emblem). Escalating the assault further, the defaulter hurled a glass and tea cups directly towards the BDO while the officer was seated in his chair.

“This egregious misconduct is a clear case of criminal intimidation and a violent attack on a public servant discharging their duty. This brutal attack on a public servant executing their official duties is not merely a criminal act; it is a direct assault on the integrity of the administrative machinery and a severe blow to the safety of all public employees working at the grassroots level. Such lawlessness within a government office creates an atmosphere of fear and paralyzes the daily functioning of public services,” the letter read.

Given the gravity of the situation and the threat to the workplace safety, they demanded immediate legal and administrative action against those involved in the incident.

They also wrote, “Given the gravity of the assault and the severe threat to the security of public servants, the entire staff of the Amarpur RD Block is currently experiencing a profound sense of insecurity and apprehension regarding their personal safety. Consequently, staff members are deeply hesitant to attend office under these hostile conditions. Normal official operations can only smoothly resume once adequate safety measures are firmly put in place and visible, concrete action is initiated against the culprit to restore a secure working environment.”

In protest against the incident, all the staff of Amarpur RD Block decided to agitate in front of the entry gate of the block office on Wednesday from 9:30 am onwards.