*DC directs Tehsildar to hold probe
Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, June 22: The people from Mendhar, Mankote, Balakote and Harni area of Mendhar sub division today held strong protest and demanded registration of FIR against the staff of BDO office Mendhar after the entire record of NREGA works was burnt in a mysterious fire in the office here last night.
Reports said that the entire record of MG-NREGA, kept in a room of Senior Assistant- Abdul Majid in the BDO office Mendhar was said to be burnt in a fire incident at round 10 pm last night. They said Night Chowkidar, Wilayat Hussain had gone to his home for some time between 9 pm and 10 pm and when he returned he found that room of clerk Abdul Majid was on fire. He raised alarm and some people gathered there. The room was locked. Before the arrival of fire tender, entire record of MG-NREGA of 32 Panchayats including computer had burnt in the fire. The fire was however controlled after the Firemen arrived there.
Today morning when people came to know about the matter they came out on the road near BDO office and sat on dharna. They blocked Mendhar-Jammu road at around 11 am and started protest against BDO office staff. They said hardly a week back funds worth Rs 7 crore as pending NREGA liability of last three years was received by BDO office Mendhar. Most of the contractors and other labourers had submitted their bills and were yet to pay by the staff. They said the BDO, Tariq Aziz and his staff is facing Vigilance inquiry and were apprehending seizure of record. This act of seems to be handi-work of BDO office staff to mint money and avoid Vigilance inquiry. They demanded that an FIR be registered against staff and DC should hold independent inquiry.
Later, Tehsildar Mendhar and SHO arrived there and they assured that DC has already directed to hold a probe into the matter and submit report within three days. Then they lifted dharna at around 12.15 pm.
ACD Poonch, ZA Shah and DC Poonch, Tariq Ahmed Zargar claimed that inquiries will be held and guilty will be punished if their involvement was found behind this mysterious fire. However, no one has been suspended or arrested in this connection though police claimed to have registered a compliant.
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