JE uses casteist remark against junior, booked

Shiv Kumar Sharma

Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, July 19

A junior engineer (JE) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has allegedly used casteist remarks and derogatory language against a telecom technician of his department.

The accused allegedly didn’t allow the victim to sit on a chair and told him to sit on the ground.

The incident happened on June 29 but the case was registered on July 17 after a video clip of the incident went viral on social media.

On the complaint of telecom technician Shyam Lal, junior engineer Nathi Ram was booked under Sections 66 of IT Act and 3 (2) of SC and ST Act at Sadar police station, Jagadhri.

The complainant said that he was posted as telecom technician (TT) in telephone exchange, Yakubpur village.

He said that TT Swaran Singh had held a function on his retirement in his village, Panjeto, on June 29 and he went there to attend that function.

“At the function, Nathi Ram, JE posted at telephone exchange, Chhachhrauli, used casteist remarks and derogatory language against me. He didn’t allow me to sit on a chair and asked me to sit on the ground,” the complainant said.

Sources said that someone made a video clip of the incident which went viral on social media after some days.

“When the video clip of this incident came to our notice, we went to the house of Shyam Lal of Judda Shekhan village on July 4. The next day, we — with the help of the victim — lodged a complaint with Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Singh against the accused,” said Mandeep Topra, president of Ambedkar Yuva Manch, Haryana.

He said that if the police don’t arrest the accused soon, the yuva manch would start an agitation.

Abhishek Gupta, Divisional Engineer Telecommunication, Yamunanagar (rural), said that the incident had come to their notice but it took place out of the office. Therefore, they couldn’t take any action against the JE. He said that JE Nathi Ram had on leave for several days.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Pradeep Singh, who is investigating the case, said that no arrest had been made yet as investigation was on.

Despite several attempts, JE Nathi Ram’s phone was found switched off.

Told to sit on ground 

• At a function outside the office, the JE allegedly used casteist remarks and derogatory language against the technician.
• He didn’t allow the victim to sit on a chair and told him to sit on the ground.
• A case was registered after a video clip of the incident went viral on social media.