''Slighted'' by DM, angry panchayat members hand memorandum to dog

Panna: Members of a panchayat in Madhya Pradesh`s Panna district showed their anger against the District Magistrate -- who refused to meet them to hear their complaint of misbehaviour against an officer -- by handing over the memorandum to a dog.

Representatives of the panchayat on Thursday went to meet District Magistrate JP Irene Cynthia demanding action against an administrative officer for alleged misbehaviour with a woman panchayat member and wanted to hand over a memorandum to her.

However, the DM did not come out to meet the villagers and instead sent the same officer against whom allegations of misbehaviour were levelled.

DP Dhankad, President of the panchayat representatives, told the media: "When the DM did not come to meet us despite our repeated attempts, and she sent the same officer who had misbehaved with the woman, we handed over our memorandum to a dog."

Dhankad told IANS: "We have been told by others that if we complain against any officer, then the same officer is appointed to investigate the allegations levelled against him or her. But in Panna the situation is worse -- where the officer who misbehaved with the woman panchayat member was himself sent to receive the complaint memorandum.

"We thought a dog is more loyal than the errant officer, and thus we handed over the memorandum to a dog."