Accusing District Magistrate Abhay Singh of severely beating five home guards posted at his official residence after the theft of two sandalwood trees, home guards have gone on strike here.
The home guards alleged that on Monday night DM Abhay chased them around his bungalow with a stick and severely beat up five of them in the presence of home guard commandant Rajendra Singh, charging them with theft of two sandalwood trees from his residence.
They also alleged that they were suspended by the commandant on the recommendation of the DM, who denied the allegations.
The DM claimed that it was an attempt to divert attention from charges of theft against the home guards.
Abhay said he found two sandalwood trees in the bungalow axed on Monday night and summoned the home guard commandant as its security is looked after by 21 home guards.
The state president of Home Guard Sangh Mukesh Dwivedi who is leading the protesters at the collectorate has threatened to go on state-wide strike if their demands were not met soon.
"The home guards have demanded an FIR against the DM and his removal as well as proper treatment for the five who were beaten up after a thorough medical examination," Dwivedi said.
The divisional home guard commandant, K N Misra, who rushed to the district, said all the five suspended home guards have been reinstated and efforts were on to pacify the protesters.
SP Saligram Verma said that an FIR has been filed yesterday against the five home guards for theft of sandalwood trees and investigations are on.
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