SRINAGAR, Oct. 16 -- Political parties across Jammu & Kashmir's ideological divide - the ruling National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - have united to demand strict action against senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan after a viral video showed him verbally abusing a woman provincial services officer during an official virtual meeting.

NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said chief minister Omar Abdullah has asked chief secretary Atul Dulloo to ensure accountability and protect the woman officer from retribution. "Accountability must prevail, and no one should be allowed to misuse their position to intimidate or victimise others," Sadiq said.

Sadiq ...