Board collects info on infra, to conduct all exams in govt schools

Vikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 16

Two multi-national companies have suspended two youths for defaming the companies by posting derogatory and anti-national comments on the Facebook, terming the killing of 40 soldiers as the “real surgical strike”.

Immediately after the gruesome terror attack at Pulawama killed 40 CRPF personnel on Thursday, a youth Riyaz Ahmed Wani from Rathpora, Eidgah, Kashmir, working as marketing personnel at Macleods Pharmaceuticals Limited, posted a Facebook comment — “athh wanaaan surgical strike”.

Another youth Iqbal Hussain of Zaildar Mohalla, Saida Kadal working as a marketing executive with Zydus Healthcare Limited, commented by writing — “This is real surgical strike”.

Both companies, which started getting hate mails as well as furious reactions and queries, acted immediately and suspended them after serving show-cause notices to both. Melwyn Lewis, deputy general manager, HR, Zydus Healthcare, while seeking explanation from Iqbal Hussain, said, “One Riyaz Ahmed Wani posted an anti-national message on the Facebook. While commenting on the said comment, you have posted your comment as ‘this is called as real surgical strike’. Because of your anti-national comments on social network, the company’s name and image got tarnished and the management has also started receiving furious reactions and questions why such anti-national elements exist in the company”.

Meanwhile, Iqbal Hussain has been suspended from duty with immediate effect. Talking to The Tribune from Mumbai, Macleods Pharma, condemning the dastardly attack in Pulwama on the CRPF convoy, said it had been brought to the company’s notice that Riyaz Ahmed Wani, an employee with one of its divisions in Srinagar, had posted these comments on his Facebook wall, glorifying the attack.

“Taking cognisance of the same, Riyaz Wani has been suspended immediately, pending inquiry. As an organisation we do not support such anti-national sentiments and there is zero tolerance towards such behaviour. Within seven days, the inquiry shall be concluded and a final decision shall be made and if he is found guilty, he shall be terminated immediately and reported to the authorities,” said Himanshu Ranvah, Head Legal, Macleods Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Another multi-national company marketing ahead, wishing not to be named, said after such incident, many companies were revisiting their employees’ past credentials and might shortlist names which they find dubious.

“We have employees from all over India. We generally keep a vigil on their conduct with company and their clients. But such social media anti-national postings have made us to broadbase our vigil. We are likely to introduce a monitoring cell which will keep track on their social sites activities,” said the marketing head.

Not ready to take risk

• During their visit to various districts, the school board teams discussed with the Chief Education Officers facilities such as the availability of staff, desks and space in the classrooms in government schools, where exam centres for Classes X, XI and XII will be set up
• The BOSE authorities are not ready to take any risk to set up examination centres in private schools for Class XI due to chances of copying, which had been the case in the past during the home examination system