Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Aug 23: A BDO was attached, two VLWs were suspended and a Gram Rozgar Sevak terminated from services after the police seized 405 bags of Ambuja cement, smuggled from the store of Rural Development Department (RDD), Thannamandi and arrested two employees of the department including a VLW/ storekeeper.
A police spokesman giving details said that acting on a specific information that cement of the RDD ( BDO Block Thannamandi), meant for MG-NREGA works was being smuggled by some insiders in the department and sold in the black. Upon this the police parties under the supervision of SDPO Thannamandi, Iftkhar Talib conducted raids at three different locations in the area and seized cement along with tractor trolleys late last evening.
After preliminary investigation, the police arrested storekeeper of RDD Thannamandi, Farooq Ahmed Shawl, son of Abdul Lateef, resident of Rajouri and Gram Rozgar Sevak (GRS) Yasir Mustafa, son of Mohd Nissar, resident of Khanyalkote village in Thannamandi.
The police registered a case FIR No. 125/ 2015 and started investigation. The police said that indent of 150 bags of 2013-14 had been issued but the consignment was not lifted or utilized for the works in some areas of Thannamandi block by the BDO office staff. They were looking for the opportunity to smuggle out the cement. The involvement of some senior officials and their arrest can not be ruled out, the police said.
Director, Rural Development Jammu, M L Raina told the Excelsior that Minister for RDD Abdul Haq Khan has taken serious note of this issue and directed stern action against the officials concerned. He said that VLW Farooq Shawl and Mukhtiar Shawl VLW Panchayat Baryoon in Thannamandi have been placed under suspension, GRS Yasir Mustafa has been terminated/ disengaged while BDO Thannamandi, Mukhtiar Ahmed Sheikh has been attached.
The Minister has sought the explanation of the ACD Rajouri Noor Alam in this regard. An inquiry has been ordered against the officials involved in this lapse.
Follow our WhatsApp channel