Pernambut civic officials file police complaint against tahsildar

The issue began on Saturday evening when Municipal Engineer P Manoharan, accompanied by local body officials, went to Madani street to disconnect the motor one Syed Kattar was using to draw water illegally.

This move followed local people demanding action against Kattar as they who live on the higher ground were unable to get municipal water.

When Manoharan was talking to Kattar and demanding that he stop the motor as the ground level sump was full, local volunteers gathered at the spot and picked up a quarrel with the municipal staff stating that the latter were flouting Section 144 CrPC by coming to the area in a group. The volunteers soon numbered more than 70 when they sought the help of colleagues from the Erikuthi medu locality.

Manoharan, who spoke to this reporter, said “Kattar was initially willing to hand over the motor when I threatened to disconnect his water connection but was prevented from doing so by volunteer Thameem and his friend”.

The issue soon snowballed with the arrival of Pernambut tahsildar Murugan on the scene. Manoharan was allowed to leave without initiating any action on the defaulter. When he reached the municipal office and detailed what happened to Commissioner D Nithyanandam, Murugan called up Manoharan on the latter’s mobile and wanted to speak to the Commissioner.

Manoharan said “the tahsildar threatened us saying that none of us could leave the premises without his permission and added that he should not be held responsible if any murder took place.”

This naturally infuriated the civic officials who demanded action against Murugan’s temerity to threaten other government employees. It was then that Manoharan lodged a complaint with the Pernambut police through Commissioner Nithayanandam.