Jammu, November 11, 2025 – In a disturbing escalation of inter-departmental friction during the ongoing Nagrota Assembly bypoll, Block Development Officer (BDO) Azhar Khan, a Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officer, was allegedly physically assaulted by Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Gandhi Nagar, Sunil Singh (also referred to as Sunil Jasrotia in some reports), on Monday afternoon. The incident, which unfolded outside Polytechnic College at Bikram Chowk in Jammu’s Gandhi Nagar area, has ignited widespread outrage, prompting the immediate transfer of the accused officer and a mass casual leave protest by the JKAS fraternity. Eyewitness accounts and a viral video circulating on social media depict the confrontation escalating into violence as Khan, serving as the nodal officer for transport management during the by-election, clashed with Singh over logistical arrangements for polling parties. Sources close to the matter revealed that the verbal altercation stemmed from delays in vehicle distribution, with the SDPO reportedly demanding priority access that conflicted with the BDO’s directives. In the heat of the moment, Singh allegedly slapped Khan multiple times, an act captured on camera and shared widely, amplifying calls for accountability. The video, showing the altercation in stark detail, has garnered hundreds of views within hours, fueling demands for swift justice.Swift Action:
SDPO Transferred, But Is It Enough?
In response to a formal complaint lodged by Khan with the Station House Officer (SHO) Gandhi Nagar, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat ordered the immediate attachment of SDPO Singh to Police Headquarters for further posting. DSP Kuljit Singh, previously SDPO Basohli, has been hastily appointed as his replacement in Gandhi Nagar, effective forthwith.The transfer, announced late Monday evening, followed urgent representations from the JKAS Officers’ Association to Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Jammu District Collector Rakesh Minhas also forwarded the complaint to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu, underscoring the need for “strict and exemplary action” to prevent such breaches of protocol.
The assault has deeply shaken the administrative cadre, with the JKAS Officers’ Association issuing a scathing letter to LG Sinha, describing the episode as a “grave attack on the dignity and safety of civil officers engaged in statutory duties.” In a bold show of solidarity, the association announced mass casual leave effective immediately, vowing to halt operations across departments unless “institutional safeguards” are implemented to protect officers from intimidation.”This incident has severely shaken the morale of the administrative cadre and undermines officer confidence in the system,” the letter stated, warning of broader disruptions to governance and the bypoll process.
