Chandigarh, June 25, 2013: The Punjab IAS officers Association strongly condemns the brutal attack on KS Pannu, IAS, Director General, School Education, while brilliantly performing rescue and relief duties in Uttarakhand.
To add insult to injury, one amongst that group video-graphed the thrashing of the IAS officer and uploaded it on social media. Pannu has categorically informed that the attack was unprovoked and pre-meditated, and perhaps the outcome of some conspiracy. He has denied having provided any provocation whatsoever. In fact, according to him, the group verified the identity of K S Pannu, and when they were sure that he was K S Pannu, they pounced upon him. According to him, much has been made out of his so called apology, which was
only the last resort from being beaten endlessly, and would have to be resorted to by anyone, without having done anything wrong for saving his life. The brave officer, however, decided to resume his duties within an hour of his brutal manhandling and set a great example of public spiritedness. The Punjab IAS officers have never been second to anyone in helping relief and rescue operations, whether it was in Bhuj in Gujarat, Tsunami in Orissa or In Uttarakhand or wherever they were required to contribute to a noble cause. It is extremely unfortunate
that certain elements attacked Pannu in an allegedly per-meditated and conspiratorial manner even though he was working day and night to rescue the fellow human beings at the risk of his own life.
This dastardly attack on an IAS officer has raised a number of issues which require to be addressed on priority. First, the criminals must not go unpunished. Therefore, the Association demands that our State Government should take up the matter with Uttarakhand Government for lodging an FIR and entrusting the investigation to a Special Investigation Team in due course after completing the rescue operations. Secondly, if the roots of any conspiracy exist in Punjab,
the Association demands that our State Government should direct the DGP to get the matter thoroughly investigated and the law should take its right course. Thirdly, the Association suggests that while sending rescue and relief teams to other states, it should be ensured that they are sent under a well coordinated unified command of a senior IAS officer, and should include an IPS officer and requisite police manpower not only to help the operations, but also to safeguard our
own officers, men and material from miscreants. The R&R team must also include doctors, paramedical personnel, civil supply, transport officers and wireless communication officials. That will not only streamline the disaster management operations, but also take care of any security or general mishap issues during the operations. Finally, despite this highly condemnable brutal attack on one of its officers engaged in a noble cause, the Punjab State IAS Association resolves to continue providing the best of public services to ameliorate the sufferings our fellow human feelings in any part of the country.
Meanwhile, the PCS Officers Association has also strongly condemned the dastardly incident and has expressed its solidarity and support to the IAS Officers Association in general and Kahan Singh Pannu in particular.