A B Sharma
Early Times Report
Reasi, Apr 9: Acting swift on Early Times Report, Forest Department, Pouni, district Reasi today immediately placed three officials under suspension who had taken bride from a poor person.
District Forest Officer (DFO) Shahid Chaudahary after being informed of the 'criminal activity' committed by his officials while harassing a poor trolley driver by taking Rs 8000 from him as graft in return for release of his trolley, sought an explanation from them. The erring officials have been identified as Rajesh Gupta, Block Officer (Forester), Ramesh Kumar (Beat Guard) and Ram Ratan (Guard Helper). He also placed them under suspension vide order No 2 D FO REASI, -2018 dated, 8/4/2018.
The tables turned over Forest Department Pouni, Reasi, yesterday when after a news item published in ET over the bribery demanded by the department's official from a poor trolley driver took to task its officials to have committed a crime.
The forest department officials had reached Resham Singh's house with Rs 8000 and also pleaded before him to give some money to the news correspondent of the ET to withdraw the news also.
Resham Singh s/o Baldev Singh, r/o Gojuro Buliyan, Barakh in Pouni tehsil who was harassed by forest department officials since a week by seizing his trolley, refusing it to release after he paid a handsome Rs 10000, as distribution money to forest officials department, had refused to take back the money saying that the news carried will be taken at its face only.
Talking to the Early Times, DFO Shahid Chaudhary said, anybody, not even from his relation will be spared if found at fault in the department.
" I came to know about the development from my officials and I called their explanation and suspended them there and then, " said Shahid Chaudhary.
The DFO told ET that he has open orders from his seniors in the department as well as ministry to take swift action against any found committing any crime or fraud within the department. |
