AB Sharma
Early Times Report
reasi, Apr 7: The state government's tall claims of transparency in the departments are dented when at a remote place, a poor man; a daily wager is made to pay a hefty amount for an alleged deed, which he never committed.
Resham Singh, s/o Baldev Singh, r/o Gojuro Buliyan, Barakh in Pouni tehsil in Reasi was apprehended by the forest department officials when he was loading soil from a road side in his trolley ; Tractor.reg, no. Jk11b,0630 on Monday , April 2, to throw soil on roof top of his Kuccha house.
The officials seized his vehicle and took it to forest department where the vehicle was kept for five days.
When helpless Resham Singh approached the officials , he was told to pay the penalty of Rs 10, 000, failing which they warned him of challaning his vehicle which may release after three months' time .
The hapless Resham while talking to the Early Times said, Block Officer ( forester) who had seized his trolley also said that in wake of the money, a receipt will also be forwarded to Resham Singh ,.
"I somehow managed to collect Rs 8000 from some sources and paid the money to the official , who was reluctant to take the money demanding Rs 10,000 only, " said Resham Singh , his recorded statement of which is with Early Times .
Resham Singh also said that the concerned official also said that since the money has to be divided in equal shares among the ranger and DFO of the area also, nothing less than Rs 10,000 can save his vehicle from standing still for three months .
"I pleaded and begged the officials to take Rs 8000, assuring that the rest of the money , he will pay after the vehicle is released and he could earn some money by more toil in future," said Resham Singh.
The hapless driver while talking to the Early Times said, though the officials released his vehicle, but never gave him the receipt despite many reminders.
The driver has appealed to the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti as well as the Forest Minister Lal Singh to take the cognizance of the matter so that the helpless and poor are not taken to task by different department officials who are on regular spree to make money of the gullible. |
