Concerns over safety of Waqf officials

Nampally: With increasing attacks on Wakf Board officials, questions are being raised about their security. The impunity, with which encroachers are undermining the authority under State government, is also being questioned. Measures against the culprits are yet to be initiated after over 3 days of lodging complaint at the police station. Even the Chairman of TS Wakf Board remains elusive on the issue.

Following Thursday's physical attack on Wakf Board officials near Dargah Hazrat Shah Khamosh, when they were performing their duty, another incident came to light the next day, when Hakeem, the rent collector, was abused verbally in Sitaphalmandi in Secunderabad. Both the issues were brought to the notice of the Chief Executive Officer of Wakf Board, who remains on election duty.

In the first incident, about five employees of Wakf Board, including Syed Jaleel Ahmed, Wakf Board inspector, Hasan Shareef, executive officer, Shujauddin, surveyor, and other staff reached Shah Khamosh Dargah following complaint by custodian of Dargah that there was an encroachment. But, when the team visited, an argument broke out and the alleged encroachers started abusing and later manhandled Jaleel, who received bleeding injuries on the face and also on his left eye. Following first aid, he spoke to media and said that after they received official memo that some houses were in violation they visited the place and upon arrival they faced hostility. "Encroachers attacked us, which was recorded. I received three stitches on my face and they also injured my left eye," said Jaleel.

The Executive Officer said that the encroachers were not even ready to cooperate for survey or for receiving any kind of notice. He said that as per the High Court orders, this was a violation and the team was there to conduct survey. "If the possessors claim, they could have produced the relevant documents upon receiving notice. They were not even giving rent to the Mutawalli (caretaker)," said Shareef.

In Sitaphalmandi, when Hakeem, the rent collector, went, one Mujeeb residing near Masjid Aqsa in the locality used vulgar language and abused him. The officials are now demanding for the provision of security cover on their duty. On the other hand, police is yet to initiate action against the culprits.