Tripura DM Shailesh Yadav Suspended over Traumatizing, Thrashing People at Wedding

Taking note of the viral video doing rounds on the internet this week where a District Magistrate Shailesh Kumar Yadav can be seen grabbing a groom from his collar, thrashing a Pandit, and abusing people at a wedding for the violation of Covid-19 protocol, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has intervened and suspended the IAS officer.

He had submitted an apology on Tuesday stating, “I apologise if any individual or group is pained by last night’s action. But what was done last night was only for the benefit and well-being of people. My aim was not to pain or humiliate anyone.”

5 MLAs had written to State Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar seeking strict action against the District Magistrate over his “boorish and uncultured behaviour”.

“We the members of Tripura Legislative Assembly would like to draw your attention to absolutely boorish and uncultured behaviour DM (west) Shailesh Kumar Yadav and the state terrorism indulged by him last night in the ‘Manikya Court’ and ‘Golap Bagan’, in the name of enforcing COVID protocol though both the marriage parties were being organised in full compliance with the COVID protocol notified by Centre and DM (West),” the letter said.

CM Biplam Kumar Deb has formed a committee of two MPs to meet the families of the bride and groom. He can be heard saying “Don’t talk like a bloody villager, I am your bloody DM”.

DM Shailesh Yadav had raided two places on Monday night including Manikya Court and Golap Bagan. In the purported video, the DM entered the Manikya Court venue where a wedding was undergoing. He abused police constables, bride, groom, their kin, and the elderly priest.

They detained 31 people, including 19 women as Section 144 of CrPC was imposed in the district. They were held for violating the night curfew guidelines.