Doda, Aug 9 — A government health department employee arrested this week for assault has been suspended from service pending investigation, officials confirmed Saturday.
Anirudh Bhau, a multitasking staffer at the Associated Hospital, Government Medical College (GMC) Doda, was arrested on August 7 in connection with FIR No. 187/2025 under sections 333, 115(2), 304, 352, and 191(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station Doda. The arrest followed a written complaint by Lakhan Singh, a resident of Gadi Bhaghwah, alleging that Bhau attacked him inside his shop near the RTO office.
Police said the operation was led by Station House Officer Parvaiz Ahmed Khanday. Bhau was produced before a court and remanded to five days of police custody.
On August 9, the Principal of GMC Doda issued a formal suspension order, citing Rule 31(b) of the J&K Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, which mandates suspension for any government servant detained in police custody beyond 48 hours. The order states that the action is without prejudice to further departmental proceedings, and Bhau will remain suspended until the conclusion of the criminal trial and related investigations.
Shopkeepers Demand PSA Action
Local traders have renewed calls for Bhau to be booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA), alleging he has been involved in repeated acts of intimidation, communal provocation, and public disorder despite being a government employee.
Pattern of Previous Allegations
In August 2024, Bhau — then identified as Doda district president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) — faced criminal charges after being accused of forcibly entering shops at night with armed associates, allegedly targeting Muslim-owned businesses. Complaints also accused him of threatening shopkeepers, firing shots in the air, and making public statements warning against certain food sales.
Videos from separate incidents, some unverified, circulated on social media showing Bhau allegedly engaging in intimidation and celebratory gunfire. Local activists have accused authorities of failing to take sufficient action in the past, while VHP leaders have called previous cases “fake” and politically motivated.
Bhau has been photographed with senior political figures, including ex-BJP’s J&K chief Ravinder Raina and Doda West MLA Shakti Raj Parihar. His association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and leadership role in the VHP has been publicly noted.
Police have said that all aspects of the current case will be examined, and any further charges will be added based on evidence recovered during the investigation.
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Raja Shakeel is a journalist associated with The Chenab Times. Read More.
