Asif Iqbal Naik
Early Times Report
Kishtwar, Feb 25: Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD), Kishtwar, has reinstated two multi-purpose workers (MPWs) who were suspended nearly one and a half year back for their alleged involvement in the fraudulent withdrawal of money against non-existent works in panchayat Qadarna-A and Qadarna-B.
MPWs Ghulam Mustafa and Ghulam Nabi, who were posted in Marwah block, were suspended by then ACD, Kishtwar, Yasir Arafat Zargar, who is no more now, following their alleged incolvement in fraudulent withdrawal of money against non-existent works in Panchayat Qadarna-A and Qadarna-B. This was established by Zarger during physical verification of works by him.
Official sources said during his four days visit of Marwah in September 2014, Zargar had inspected various development works executed by Rural Development Department in the area and also conducted the physical verification of pakka work near Masjid Sharif, Bungham, falling under panchayat Qadrena-A, for which Rs 2.50 lakh were released by the department. He also conducted physical verification of pakka work near Masjid Mohallah, Hargham, falling under panchayat Qaderna-B, for which the department had released an amount of Rs 1 lakh.
During inspection of these two works, Zargar had also found that these had not been executed as per the approved plan 2013-14. Both were found to be of sub-standard quality by him.
Sources said Mustafa and Rasool had completely failed to justify the non-existent and sub- standard works which tantamounted to the misuse of funds, besides causing a loss to the state exchequer. He had immediately suspended them and recommended for an appropriate necessary action under rules against them after proper verification of records. While he had also put the concerned junior engineer to scrutiny, but before he could take action against him, he died in a fatal road accident at Bhanderkot, Kishtwar.
It is pertinent to mention that the name of Mustafa also figures in FIR No 3/2014 registered under sections 409 and 109 of RPC at Police Station, Marwah, after he was caught by police while allegedly selling government cement to private persons.
The local people have also demanded physical verification of other developmental works in the area. They termed the detection of fraud by Zargar as only a tip of iceberg and alleged that such frauds also existed in Marwah and other remote area of the district. |
