Displeased, CM tells Kitchloo to behave himself

Reacting to the alleged manhandling of a government official by one of his ministers, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday noted that such a conduct is unbecoming of a public representative and the minister has been asked to "amicably" sort out the matter.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah has expressed his displeasure over the incident involving slapping of senior government official by minister of home Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo. The chief minister said he had also directed the minister that such incident shouldn't be repeated.

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"I met a delegation of newly elected KAS association today (Saturday) and conveyed to them that I have spoken to the minister of state for home and expressed displeasure over the incident that took place in Kishtwar," said the chief minister in an interaction with the media on the sidelines of a function in Jammu on Saturday.

"I told the MoS for home that this is not the conduct that is becoming of a minister and whatever be the cause behind it as a public representative such incidents need to be avoided. He has assured me that there will be no further incidents in this matter or of this nature again, he added.

"I have also asked him that when he returns next to Kishtwar he should sit down with this officer concerned and amicably resolve the matter. This is what I have told the members of the KAS Association and they seem to be fairly satisfied that I have had conversation with the minister and he has understood that this should not have happened and it wont be repeated again."

Choudhary said when he resisted the third slap, Kitchloo ordered the police to arrest him. "His men started beating me up. I thought I may not come out alive. Officials of my department finally rushed in and rescued me with the help of the police."