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| Touts call shots at ARTO office Anantnag, interfere in official work | | They are harassing us, claim officials | | Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Anantnag, Feb 18: Touts and agents active at ARTO office in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district have completely taken over the office of Motor Vehicle Department, ET learnt on Thursday.
According to reports, these agents who allegedly enjoy support of some officials are minting money from gullible applicants by providing them learners licenses and by renewing documents of the vehicles. “These agents charge Rs 8000 to Rs 1000 for tampering the results of trial. Anyone who has failed in the test can get the license subject to the condition he pays these agents,” said a source that is privy to this trade.
He claimed that these agents have also fixed rates for renewing documents and providing vanity vehicle numbers on lowest rates.
The agents, he claimed, share the money with the officials of the Motor Vehicle Department as well.
On Thursday, some agents were spotted masquerading as employees of the department by guarding the trial venue near railway station Anantnag.
“It is too difficult to identify who is the employee here,” an applicant told Early Times.
The officials present at the venue however claimed that they hadn’t authorized the person to control the crowd around the venue.
“We kicked him out many times but he is shameless and isn’t moving away,” officials said.
A senior official of the Motor Vehicle Department told Early Times that touts and agents were harassing them if they didn’t oblige them.
“They are harassing us and even file anonymous complaints against the officials in Anti-Corruption Bureau and LG’s Grievance Cell if we don’t oblige them,” he alleged and said that these touts have filled twenty-two (22) anonymous complaints against the officers of MVD department in last month.
The official, who wished not to be named, said that one of the agents, who has a frightening past, was mostly interfering in official work.
“On multiple occasions we have written against this person and even have informed higher-ups and senior police officials about his activities but his entry into the DC office isn’t being restricted,” he claimed.
The officer said that other agents often narrate the frightening past of their so-called president of agents to officers and blackmail them.
“They literally convey to us that if you don't oblige you will get harmed,” he said.
ARTO Anantnag Manzoor Ahmad said that he is trying best to control them. “We will again write to our seniors so that their entry is banned in the office,” he added.
He informed that out of around 400 applicants only 160 applicants qualified the driving test today. |
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