Youth Cong workers ‘vandalise’ JSD rest house in Jawali, FIR registered

Some Youth Congress (YC) workers from the neighbouring Jawali Assembly constituency allegedly vandalised the newly constructed rest house of the Jal Shakti Department (JSD) in Jawali on Friday night. The incident forced department authorities to lodge a complaint with the police, citing damage to government property and hooliganism.

A video clip, recorded by a JSD official and circulated widely on social media, shows the poor condition of the well-furnished rest house room after the incident. The YC workers allegedly entered the premises without booking or permission and consumed liquor and meat, quarreled among themselves, tore clothes and broke liquor bottles. They reportedly littered the premises before leaving around 1.30 am.

According to a complaint submitted by the rest house’s chowkidar (caretaker), the miscreants claimed they were convening a meeting but instead took over the kitchen, cooked non-vegetarian food and held a liquor party. The complaint also states that they damaged costly furniture during the incident.

Ajay Sharma, Executive Engineer of the JSD Jawali division, told The Tribune that the government had spent Rs 3.5 crore on the construction of the well-furnished rest house, which was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri in November last year.

He added that the state government allows both government and non-government employees, including Himachalis and non-Himachalis, to use circuit and rest house facilities for a fixed fee. However, he expressed concern that such incidents could deter public use of government properties.

Sharma emphasised that entry to the rest house will not be permitted without prior booking or necessary permissions. He confirmed that the entire act of vandalism was captured on the rest house’s CCTV cameras. Upon receiving information about the incident, he personally inspected the premises and found the property in a defaced condition.

Sources revealed that Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri has taken the matter seriously and forwarded the video footage to Additional Chief Secretary Onkar Sharma for further action and preventive measures. Meanwhile, Jawali police visited the site, conducted a preliminary investigation, and registered an FIR under Sections 332. 352 3(5) of the BNS against the accused named in the complaint.

Himachal Tribune