Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Jan 29: A minor son of Block Medical Officer (BMO), opened fire on the Revenue, R&B officials and policemen when a joint team of Government officials on the directions of Sub Divisional Magistrate, Surankote went to get a Govt quarter vacated.
An official spokesman said that the quarter was lying in the illegal possession of BMO, Dr Ghulam Ahmed Malik for the last over two decades. Moreover, he was posted in Jammu now. The Administration had issued several notices to the Medical Officer but he was not complying to the Magistrate’s order.
Today, when the team led by Naib Tehsildar, AEE and some other officials along with police reached there, the BMO’s family allegedly abused the officials and warned them to stay away. The BMO was also out of station. In between his 16-year-old son took out his father’s licensed gun and fired 3-4 rounds on the officials. However, all of them escaped unhurt as they dived to save themselves.
Then the boy along with gun locked himself in a room and did not open it for long. The SHO and SDPO Surankote also rushed there along with Tehsildar. After long pursuation the boy then came out of the room. The police seized the .303 gun and some rounds and registered a case FIR No. 23/2015 under sections 307/353 RPC in this connection.
SDM Surankote Mohd Afzal Mirza said that BMO was putting up in Govt quarter for more than 20 years illegally. He has been posted away in Jammu now. Moreover, he reportedly has his own large house in the town which he has rented out. Mirza said that several notices were served to the family but they did not bother. The Govt will get the quarter vacated to accommodate other deserving staff posted here.
SDPO Surankote, Ajay Sharma said that boy is minor and it is the responsibility of the father/ parents to keep gun in their personal custody. The boy has fired on the Govt officials performing duty and the accused have been booked by police. If they had their own private house in the town, they should vacate the Govt quarter honourably. The action under law will be taken against them, the SDPO maintained.