Minister Pratap Deb’s close aid siphoned off Women SHG funds By Our Correspondent RAJKANIKA/AUL/KENDRAPARA: Tall claims of the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik that his government has been working for the empowerment of women has become a big shame for the state as local party leaders have been looting the money meant for SHG women. According to sources, some ruling party leaders have allegedly siphoned Rs 5 lakh from Women Self Help Group in Keshanagar village in Bharigada Panchayat under Rajkanika block in Kendrapara district. Women SHG Group members met Civil Supplies, Consumer Welfare, Technical Education, Employment, Training, and Information Technology Minister Pratap Keshari Deb at his Aul Royal Palace on Tuesday but the scion of Royal family came in rescue of his party leaders instead SHG Women. Local BJD leaders like Bikash Das, Basant Mallick, and Block Chairman Kapila Mallick reportedly sheltering the accused. The SHG Women Group will hold demonstration in front of Naveen Niwas , official residence of Chief Minister in couple of days. The SGH has filed a case with a police and a case has registered bearing no.17/13 in Rajkanika Police Station against two accused Sarat Mallick and Parsuram Sahoo. Both accused have claimed that they were close aid of first time Minister Deb and have been allegedly threatening innocent women of the area. While Sarat Mallick has been arrested and sent to jail now on bail but Parsuram Sahoo, who has the documents of Rs 5 lakh loan, is roaming scot free despite FIR against him. Meanwhile, police have raided both houses of accused and seized their vehicle. Local BJD leaders are allegedly threatening Rajkanika Police not to take any action on the issue as party workers names have cropped up and election will be held next year. DGP Prakash Mishra , Central IGP AN Ray, Kendrapara SP, Sarthak Sarangi , Rajkanika IIC have been informed about the matter. But main accused Parsuram Sahoo is still at large. Interestingly, despite knowing the facts and case been registered the police is silent over the issue. Sources said, the police have been receiving instruction from political higher ups including Minister Deb of BJD not to arrest Parsuram Sahoo. indianewsdiary/?p=11059
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 10:43:54 +0000