Gorakhpur gardener jailed for ‘disobeying’ SDM’s grass diktat

The company was engaged in stevedoring and offshore cargo handling in Haldia Dock Complex.

A gardener employed at the state-run Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant park in Gorakhpur has claimed that he had to go jail for “disobeying” SDM (Sadar) Neha Prakash when she asked him to stop cutting grass at the park as she was allergic to it. Neha, on her part, said that she had complained to the police against Yadav.

Vishwanath Yadav, who was arrested Tuesday and booked under Section 151 of the Indian Penal Code (disturbing public peace), was released by city magistrate Satish Pal on Wednesday on two sureties of Rs 1 lakh each.

Speaking to mediapersons after walking out of the jail, Yadav said the incident took place early morning on Tuesday when he was cutting grass and the SDM was taking a walk in the park. “She asked me not to cut the grass as she was allergic to it. Once she was a good distance away, I started cutting the grass again. This angered her and she threatened me.”

Neha, on her part, claimed that she had played no role in Yadav’s arrest.

“Everyday, I go to the park for yoga. On Tuesday too, I was practising yoga when the gardener started cutting the grass. I asked him to stop as it was spewing dust, but he didn’t listen.”

She added that other women in the park had told her that Yadav misbehaved with them and made obscene gestures. Neha, however, reiterated that she had not complained to the the police against Yadav.

Following Yadav’s release, Gorakhpur Commissioner Rakesh Kumar Ojha said: “Whatever the matter was has now been resolved.”

Source:: Indian Express