Supaul Read Correspondent -: You must have heard the adage of “turning truth into lie and lie into truth”, but when solid evidence recorded in government files is overturned overnight, then call it the helplessness of the department or a game of 'give-and-take'. Bihar's Agriculture Minister Bijay Kumar Sinha will also start feeling ashamed after seeing this game that in his department there are white-collared officers who are bigger robbers than Chambal dacoits. In the latest case, Supaul district's Serious questions have started being raised on the working style of the Agriculture Department in Tribeniganj sub-division. It is alleged that Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer Mukesh Kumar has given impunity to the fertilizer mafia by denying the investigation report of BAO. This has caused a deep blow to the credibility of the district administration and the agriculture department.
Serious fraud was found in the investigation, but due to the blessings of SO, the shopkeeper was freed.
It is known that on August 4, on the instructions of the District Agriculture Officer, the Block Agriculture Officer Tribeniganj had raided a fertilizer shop named Pooja Traders located in Municipal Council Ward-25. During this period, many serious irregularities were revealed, such as change of location: the fertilizer shop was operating illegally for years at a place different from the address recorded in the license. Discrepancy between stock and POS: The display board was missing and huge discrepancies were found in the actual stock and figures recorded on the POS machine. Unbilled Manure: 10 bags of unbilled mixer fertilizer called 'Green Gold' were seized (although locals claim the number was in the hundreds). Under the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 and the Essential Commodities Act, the DAO suspended the license of the shop with immediate effect, banned sales and sought an explanation within three days.
Suspension on paper, sales continued on land
Even after 15 days of suspension of the accused shopkeeper, no concrete departmental action or case was registered. Rather, a strategy started being prepared to save the accused shopkeeper. The most surprising thing is that despite the ban on sale, the sale of fertilizer continued indiscriminately from Pooja traders.
Local farmers say that when the District Agriculture Officer himself suspends the shop, then how can fertilizer be sold openly from the same shop? Is there no one to monitor the suspended shop, or are the departmental officers turning a blind eye? Meanwhile, the game of 'setting-getting' continued.
SO changed the report, DAO remained silent. According to sources, Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer Mukesh Kumar, who is notorious for such acts, completely changed the facts recorded in the investigation report of the Block Agriculture Officer and gave a certificate of all is well to the shopkeeper. On one hand, fraud is detected in the investigation report of the vigorous Agriculture Officer, while on the other hand, on the 'clean chit' report of SO Mukesh, the District Agriculture Officer, without any thorough investigation, leaves no stone unturned to embarrass his junior officer and demoralize him. It is clearly evident from these contradictory statements of departmental officials that there is both substance and force in the internal discussions about financial transactions worth lakhs of rupees.
Robbery on farmers' rights, demand for independent investigation raised
If the primary investigation report was correct, why was it sidelined? And if the report was incorrect, why was initial action taken? The Agriculture Department is completely speechless on these questions. The poor farmers of the area are directly suffering the consequences of this 'paper supply' done in the name of action. Local people and farmers have demanded that the district administration conduct an impartial investigation into this entire matter by an independent agency. If investigation proves collusion between the officer and the seller, then strict legal action should be taken by registering an FIR against both of them. But it is certain that the amazing British exploits of Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer Mukesh Kumar and his mortgaging of his honor for the sake of money are being discussed everywhere.
Statement of Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer Mukesh Kumar: “The shopkeeper has been shifted to the licensed place. There is no irregularity and he has a valid license for 'Green Gold' fertilizer.” Strange reply of District Agriculture Officer Nitish Kumar Bharti: “Based on the report of Tribenganj SO, the shopkeeper has been freed from suspension. I have no further information.