ADC Attaches Naveed Ahmed, Orders 10-Day Probe; Sikh Leaders Warn of Escalation, Call Departmental Action a ‘Hollow Gesture’ for a Grave Communal Offence
A venomous, anti-Sikh tirade by Patwari Naveed Ahmed of Halqa Sindhara, captured on a viral video, has plunged Poonch into a state of outrage, with the Sikh community demanding his immediate arrest and the registration of an FIR for deliberately hurting religious sentiments and attempting to incite communal hatred.
While the administration, under ADC Tahir Mustafa Malik, has attached the Patwari and ordered a 10-day inquiry (vide Order No. DCP/Estt/241-46/5228), this action is being widely condemned by the Sikh community as a grossly inadequate response to a grave criminal offence.
The Patwari’s subsequent video apology, claiming his slur was an unintentional geographical reference, has been summarily rejected as a flimsy excuse, with community leaders warning of a potential law and order situation if their demand for strict criminal proceedings, rather than a departmental “eyewash,” is not met.
JJ Correspondent
Poonch, June 27, 2025: The historic communal harmony of the border district of Poonch is facing a severe test as the Sikh community seethes with righteous anger over a vile, derogatory slur unleashed against them by a government employee, Patwari Naveed Ahmed of Halqa Sindhara. A video capturing the Patwari’s venomous tirade went viral, triggering immediate protests and a unified demand for his arrest. While the district administration has taken the preliminary step of attaching the official and ordering an inquiry, the Sikh community has decried this as a mere administrative eyewash, demanding nothing less than the registration of an FIR and the strictest possible criminal action for what they see as a deliberate act to foment communal discord.
The controversy exploded when the video clip surfaced, showing Patwari Naveed Ahmed, while reportedly mediating a local dispute in the Qasim Nagar area, launching into an expletive-laden rant specifically targeting and vilifying the Sikh community as a whole. The deeply offensive language caused immense pain and shock, particularly in a district where different communities have long coexisted peacefully and have stood by each other in the most challenging of times. For the Sikh community, which has been at the forefront of humanitarian efforts and has earned praise from all quarters for promoting peace, the unprovoked verbal assault from a government official was a profound insult.
Reacting swiftly, prominent members of the Sikh community lodged a formal complaint, making it clear that their issue was not a personal one with the individual but with his heinous act against an entire faith. They have appealed directly to Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Vikas Kundal, demanding immediate and strict action, warning that if the matter is not handled with the gravity it deserves, it “might create law and order situation in Poonch.”
Heeding the initial public pressure, the administration issued an order (No. DCP/Estt/241-46/5228, dated June 27, 2025) through Additional Deputy Commissioner Tahir Mustafa Malik. The order states that pending an inquiry into his misconduct, Patwari Naveed Ahmed is attached to the office of the Tehsildar Haveli. It further appoints Azhar Majid, JKAS, Tehsildar Haveli, as the Inquiry Officer, directing him to submit a report with recommendations within 10 days. Patwari Zulfqar Ahmed of Village Seri Chowana has been given the additional charge of Patwar Halqa Shindara.
However, this departmental action has failed to pacify the aggrieved community. Their anger was further stoked by a subsequent video apology from Patwari Naveed Ahmed, which many have dismissed as a self-serving and disingenuous attempt at damage control. In his apology, the Patwari claimed his reference to “Sardars” was purely in a geographical context related to a water channel dispute and was not intended to offend. This explanation has been roundly rejected. Community leaders argue that the specific, abusive words he chose to use had no geographical context and were clearly aimed at maligning the entire community.
“This was not a slip of the tongue; it was a deliberate act of hatred,” stated a senior member of the community. “An apology after the fact, especially one based on such a flimsy excuse, means nothing. A crime has been committed. It has hurt our deepest sentiments and threatened the peace of this district. A mere departmental inquiry is a hollow gesture. We demand that the law of the land take its course. An FIR must be registered, and he must be arrested and prosecuted.”
The Sikh community remains resolute in its stance that an internal inquiry cannot substitute for a criminal investigation. They view the Patwari’s actions not as simple misconduct but as a cognizable offence aimed at creating enmity between different groups. As the 10-day inquiry begins, the administration is under immense pressure. The failure to register an FIR is being seen as an attempt to shield a government employee and dilute the severity of the offence. The community is now watching every move, and their message is clear: justice will not be served by a simple attachment or a departmental report, but only through the rigors of the criminal justice system.
