MANGALDAI, July 22 - Sensation prevailed among the flood-ravaged villagers of Aaglachar under Puthimari Gaon Panchayat under Mangaldai Revenue Circle following the recovery of a large quantity of government-sanctioned flood relief material, namely foodstuff, probably meant for sale in the black market.
Local people of Aaglachar alleged that 45 bags of rice, 12 bags of masoor dal and two bags of salt covered with a blue tarpaulin sheet were recovered on Sunday by members of the public from an abandoned maize-growing plot of land located along the Brahmaputra under Shyampur Police Station in Darrang district.
On the basis of public information, police later seized the items. Local people claimed that the president and secretary of Puthimari Gaon Panchayat on July 18 last received around 80 quintals of rice, 13 quintals of masoor dal and two quintals of salt for the people of five flood-ravaged villages under the Gaon Panchayat, including more than 28 quintals of rice, five quintals of dal and one-and-a-half quintals of salt for Aaglachar from the concerned authority of the district administration for emergency distribution.
However, the Panchayat officials deprived the flood victims from their due and till the dramatic recovery on July 21, kept the relief material hidden in an abandoned maize-growing plot of land allegedly with an evil intention to sell it in the black market.
Surprisingly, the otherwise strong monitoring mechanism of the district administration allegedly failed to ensure receipt of the goods by the concerned flood victims till the following three days.
Meanwhile, on being asked telephonically, Deputy Superintendent of Police (HQ), Darrang, Mamoni Hazarika while talking to this Correspondent simply stated that details of the case were awaited.
On the other hand, Circle Officer of Mangaldai Revenue Circle Dipsikha Saikia was not available for her comments on the issue.
The local people have obviously demanded early identification of the dishonest racket involved in the illegal practice and sought a high-level inquiry followed by exemplary punishment to the guilty under the provision of law.
