Female Corporter accuses SMC Mayor of harassment

Srinagar: A female Corporter from Kashmir capital Srinagar has accused Srinagar Municipal Corporation Mayor of ‘assault’ and has registered a formal complaint against him and his Personal Assistant before police station Shaheed Gunj.
Shaheen Bhat, who was elected from Ward number 7 of Rajbagh in recently concluded Municipal Polls Monday alleged that she was roughed up by the Mayor Junaid Azim Matoo and his PA Firdous Ahmed in office chambers.
“The Mayor has been continuously asking me to come along with him for ‘enjoyment.’ He didn’t harass me once but a number of times. I had submitted an estimate for Rs 25 lakhs for developmental works but the Mayor concealed that estimate and didn’t approve it asking me to accompany him to some place for ‘enjoyment’. This is sheer sexual harassment,” Shaheen Bhat said.
She alleged that that Mayor and his Assistant manhandled and abused her in presence of other Corporaters. “They tore my ‘pheran’ (traditional gown) and showered choicest invectives,” she alleged.
“I approached SP South and Police Station Shaheed Gunj and requested them to lodge an FIR against the Mayor and his Assistant,” she said adding that a number of Corporters are witnesses to this incident.
Shaheen Bhat, who was elected on Congress ticket, said that she along with other Corporters will hit to roads if no action will be initiated against the SMC Mayor and his Assistant.
A top police official said Corporater Shaheen Bhat has registered a complaint against the Mayor and his Assistant. “We will take cognizance of the complaint,” he added.
When contacted, SMC Mayor Junaid Azam Matoo said that he was not present in his office Monday. “I have heard that Shaheen Bhat has assaulted one of the SMC employees and there is a CCTV Footage of that incident,” he added.