The Jharkhand Engineering Services Association (JESA) has demanded a public apology from Potka MLA Sanjib Sardar over allegations that he abused, assaulted and confined two engineers involved in the Subarnarekha Multipurpose Project in East Singhbhum district. The association has threatened legal action and agitation if the legislator does not apologise by Thursday.
The engineers, executive engineer Shivram Gagrai and assistant engineer Vijay Tirkey of the Subarnarekha canal division in Chandil, allegedly visited Sardar’s residence on October 12 to discuss the Rs 87-crore Kharkai right underground pipeline canal project at Sundernagar in Potka.
According to the account presented by the engineers and JESA, the discussion turned contentious over arrangements for the project’s foundation-laying ceremony and the absence of the MLA’s photograph from a commemorative plaque. They alleged that Sardar abused and assaulted them and confined them to a room for nearly an hour.
The Kharkai right underground pipeline canal project is part of the Subarnarekha Multipurpose Project, a major irrigation initiative in Jharkhand. Its foundation stone was laid by then governor Ramesh Bais and chief minister Hemant Soren on December 29, 2021.
JESA state secretary Vipul Dubey said the association would initiate legal action if Sardar failed to apologise. The association also plans to approach Jharkhand assembly speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato over the allegations. The demand places the dispute within a wider institutional framework involving the protection of government engineers and the functioning of departments responsible for public infrastructure.
Sardar, a legislator of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, denied assaulting the engineers. He said he had summoned them after receiving complaints that villagers were being discriminated against during construction of a boundary wall. According to the MLA, he reprimanded the engineers for negligence but did not assault or confine them.
The dispute has also coincided with complaints from residents of Pudhihasa Sainik Colony. Residents approached East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Rajiv Ranjan, alleging that officials and contractor representatives demanded money to leave a passage open and threatened local people. The report does not state whether the district administration has ordered an inquiry into these allegations.
The competing allegations involve the administration of an infrastructure project, the conduct of public officials and the treatment of residents affected by construction activity. JESA’s proposed legal action and its planned approach to the assembly speaker are the next stated steps in the dispute.
