Tehsildar, Patwaris indicted
Javaid Naikoo
Early Times Report
Shopian, Feb 10: Massive embezzlement in distribution of flood relief funds has surfaced in Shopian wherein deserving flood victims have been ignored and undeserving, influential people have been unduly extended relief quotas.
Documents in possession of Early Times revealed details of blue eyed people not affected by floods receiving flood relief quotas and deserving ones denied the same. Documents reveal that many blue eyed people like Muhammad Shafi Chouhan son of Mamdin, Siraj-ud-din Kohli son in law of Bashir Ahmad Chouhan, Hakamdin Poswal son of Alam din, Nazir Ahmad son of Qasim Chouhan, Nazir ahmad Chouhan son of Sayee Chouhan, Nazir Ahmad Poswal son of Ghulam Hassan Poswal, all residents of KirchaPathri Payeen of Tehsil Shopian received flood relief amount of Rs 75,000 through Ex-gratia Relief from Deputy Commissioner Shopian vide order number 22/DCS/SDRF/14 under serial numbers 1,2,3,25,26,27 dated 13/10/2014 as flood victims whose houses were completely damaged by Floods of September 2014.
According to details, among these six blue eyed people, four people received rupees 75,000 each, one blue eyed person received Rs 17,600 and another one received Rs 3000 as ex-gratia relief while according to sources, none of them was flood victim, but they bribed a team of officials allegedly led by Tehsildar Shopian namely Ali Muhammad Najar which include Patwaris and Girdawars.
Sources said that after receiving Ex-gratia Relief of state Government, names of these influential people were also included in List of 94 victims for compensation from central government relief package. Some deserving people of KrisipathriShopian including Muhammad Yousuf Malik son of Abdul Aziz and Nazir Ahmad Khalana whose houses were completely damaged by floods were denied Ex-gratia relief of Rs 75,000 only because they refused to pay demanded bribe amount of Rs 20,000 to concerned officials are still living in rented accommodations.
Accused TehsildarShopian, Ali Muhammad Najar while talking to ET said that Ex-gratia relief was only distributed among deserving victims of floods and added that a committee of officials which was framed by Deputy Commissioner Shopian including Tehsildar, B.D.O,A.E.E of R&B department, A.E of Rural Development department thoroughly investigated the relief cases and mentioned their names in the relief reports without any bias or favoritism.
Meanwhile Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Bashir Ahmad Bhat while assuring strict action against anybody found involved in embezzlement of funds meant for flood victims. He said that he will personally look in the matter and if anybody is denied ex-gratia relief he/she must approach his office and get his/her due share. |
