Panchayat official who ‘bullied’ Kashmiri shawl sellers suspended in Himachal

DHARAMSALA (HP): A woman panchayat official, who was caught on camera warning two shawl sellers from Kashmir against trading their wares in Himachal Pradesh, has been suspended for hurting religious sentiments, officials said on Friday.

The panchayat samiti member from Jaisinghpur in Kangra district was earlier booked for “promoting disharmony” and “insulting religious sentiments”, and a show-cause notice was issued to her seeking an explanation for her conduct, they added.

She was suspended after her reply to the notice proved unsatisfactory, district panchayat officer Neelam Katoch confirmed.