Srinagar, Aug 20 (KB): In a major breakthrough against corruption, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has nabbed a local Village-level Worker (VLW) in north Kashmir’s Kupwara.
Official sources told Kashmir Bulletin (KB) that one Nazir Ahmad Mir from Block Ramhal Vilgam of Kupwara district, for his involvement in seeking bribes linked with the PMAY scheme.
They said that he is a resident of Kralpora, Kupwara, was apprehended red-handed by the ACB for soliciting a bribe amounting to ₹20,000 from a local resident, one Mohd Akbar Bhat, son of Ali Mohammad Bhat, from Harkpora, Kukroosa Vilgam.
The money was reportedly asked for as an exchange for facilitating the release of funds under PMAY meant to provide affordable housing to the rural poor.
The incident has caused outrage in the local community, with many coming forward to express their disappointment over the way public officials misused their powers.
While the PMAY scheme was aimed at bettering the lives of the underprivileged by providing them with housing assistance, allegations of corruption and malpractice tarred the initiative.
This latest arrest brought to light the continuing challenges in ensuring transparency in government programs. Following the arrest, the ACB has launched an inquiry into the matter to find out further irregularities in the execution of the PMAY scheme in the district.
The development has certainly sent a strong message among public servants and officials regarding the phenomenon of such corrupt practices, and ACB is reiterating its resolve to eradicate corruption from all links and chains of governance.
It is a general request of the district authorities that whenever anybody comes across any corruption-related matter, it should be brought to their attention because community vigilance is needed to check corruption.
More details about the case will come out, while the investigation is still ongoing, according to the sources.— (KB)
