Sri Vijaya Puram, July 8: Ward No. 6 councillor Aziz-ur-Rehman, also known as Niyamat, has remained untraceable days after a non-bailable FIR was registered against him under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, with police saying efforts to locate and question him are continuing.
Police sources told The Wave Andaman that Aziz-ur-Rehman has not responded to repeated attempts to contact him since the FIR was registered. According to the sources, his mobile phone has remained switched off, and he has not appeared before investigators despite efforts to reach him.
Officials said the councillor is presently untraceable and that steps are being taken to secure his presence for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.
His disappearance has become one of the most closely watched aspects of a controversy that has rapidly escalated from a local altercation into a politically and socially sensitive dispute involving allegations of caste-based discrimination.
Adding to the intrigue, Aziz-ur-Rehman has also gone silent on social media. Known for posting almost daily on public issues and local politics, there have been no updates on any of his social media platforms since the FIR was registered.
The controversy traces its origins to an altercation between two rival groups in Sri Vijaya Puram. In the days that followed, Aziz-ur-Rehman publicly alleged that the police had delayed action against those involved in the violence, claiming that the accused belonged to the Valmiki community. He had questioned what he described as police inaction and called for prompt legal action against those allegedly responsible.
Subsequently, members of the Valmiki community lodged a complaint alleging that Aziz-ur-Rehman had made derogatory and caste-based remarks against their community. They alleged that the remarks were insulting and intended to demean members of a Scheduled Caste, following which police registered a non-bailable FIR under relevant provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The allegations are under investigation, and the truthfulness of the allegations will be determined through the legal process.
The case has attracted considerable public attention, coming amid an already charged political atmosphere in the islands. Aziz-ur-Rehman was expelled from the Bharatiya Janata Party in May this year over alleged anti-party activities during the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council chairperson election and has since emerged as a vocal critic of both the party and sections of the local administration.
The present controversy has also unfolded against the backdrop of a wider public debate over free-roaming pigs in parts of Sri Vijaya Puram. Aziz-ur-Rehman had recently raised concerns over pig rearing in residential areas, describing it as a public health and sanitation issue, while some residents and pig rearers disputed his allegations. The issue has since become politically contentious, with competing allegations and counter-allegations from different groups.
Police officials declined to comment on the operational aspects of the search but maintained that the investigation is progressing in accordance with law. Officials said further action will depend on the outcome of the investigation and the availability of the accused for questioning.
Under Indian law, registration of an FIR does not amount to proof of guilt. The allegations against Aziz-ur-Rehman remain under investigation, and any determination of criminal liability will be made by the competent court after due process.
