Not on strike, but need a culture of trust: Delhi IAS officers
New Delhi, June 17: Denying the AAP government's allegation that they are on strike, the Delhi IAS Association on Sunday said they are totally neutral towards all political parties but they need a "culture of trust" to work.
"Cameras and recording cannot ensure my security. No one has assured us of our security and safety. There has been no attempt from the government to reach out to us so that we can feel safe," IAS Association Secretary Manisha Saxena told the media here.
"We all had various experiences of assault. We will not attend a meeting if we are not feeling safe. We have gone out of the way to ensure that public do not suffer, their work does not suffer, but we will not work at the cost of our life.
"We don't go to places where we don't feel safe. We need a culture of trust to work," she said.
The officers said they are feeling unsafe after the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash.
"If the Chief Secretary can go for a meeting late at night, that shows our commitment level. But we have to also look for our safety and self-defence," said a member of the association.
Transport Commissioner Varsha Joshi, without naming the Aam Aadmi Party, said "the political party handle is making a personal comment on me."
"We are forced to bring things in public domain... it is very sad. Please don't use us for political ends," she said.
The officials said they are working overtime to ensure proper service to people.
On the issue of work being hampered due to the sit-in by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers at the Raj Niwas, Joshi said: "Several meetings planned for last week by the Ministers were cancelled due to their sit-in."
Meanwhile, the IAS Officers' Association of AGMUT cadre also termed as "misinformation" the claim that they were on strike.
"The IAS Association of AGMUT cadre strongly refutes the misinformation and false campaign against the IAS officers in Delhi being on strike.
"We reiterate that all our officers and officials, all IAS officers, are working with full vigour and dedication," the Association from Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, Union Territories (excluding Andaman & Nicobar) (AGMUT) cadre said in a statement.
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Woman mauled to death by leopard near Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Nov 18: A 52-year-old woman was mauled to death by a leopard near here, officials said on Monday.
Kariamma had gone to cut grass at an agricultural field near her home at Kambalu, Gollarahatti, in Nelamangala taluk in Bengaluru Rural district on Sunday evening when the incident happened, they said.
The field, where she was working, was adjacent to a forest which is frequented by leopards, and warnings were also issued to villagers in recent times to not venture into the vicinity. There were instances of leopard killing dogs and other strays, a senior forest officer said.
"The woman, who is into rearing cattle, went to the agricultural field to cut grass and was allegedly dragged by the leopard into the forest area where the big cat mauled her to death and consumed parts of her body from head to chest," he said.
When she did not return, her family members went searching for her and discovered her half-eaten body and reported it to the forest officials, he added.
A 30 member team of leopard task force, 30 staff and 10 officers of the forest department reached the site along with forensic experts to take samples of the hair, blood stains and footprints of the leopard in order to catch the big cat, the officer said.
"Twenty huge cages have also been installed in and around the area in an attempt to catch the leopard involved in the killing," he said.
