BDO spends 21 days in jail but yet to be suspended

From our Correspondent

MANGALDAI, Nov 28: How serious and concerned is the Panchayat and Rural Development (P&RD) department of the State in maintaining zero tolerance against a section of corrupt yet blue eyed officials? What is the duration of the detention of an official in jail that is required for the P&RD to place him under suspension as per the provisions of the law? Perhaps the top officials in this department have no idea about it! An officiating Block Development Officer has been released on bail after his detention in Mangaldai District Jail for a period of 21 days, but is yet to be placed under suspension.

A team of Police from Dhula Police Station in Darrang district led by Officer in-charge Sub Inspector Ranjit Hazarika on October 31 had arrested Wahidur Rahman- the officiating Block Development Officer (BDO) of Pub Mangaldai Development Block -on the charge of corruption. He was arrested in connection with Dhula Police Station case Number 431/17 under section 120 (B)/ 418/ 477 IPC. The judicial court here in Mangaldai also remanded the arrested Block Development Officer to three days police custody for further interrogation. After spending a period of 21 days in jail, the arrested accused official was released on bail on November 21.

As per the provision of the law, the arrested official should have been suspended after spending 48 hours of detention in jail. But making a mockery of the zero tolerance of Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal to corruption, the Panchayat and Rural Development Department did not issue the order of suspension. Meanwhile, the officiating BDO is reportedly trying his best to join as the officiating BDO by maging certain circles.   

According to the information, besides his involvement in corruption and anomalies, the arrested BDO Wahidur Rahman has allegedly been forcibly collecting entry tax from trucks entering a private rice mill adjacent to his office by engaging a lessee in a uuthorized manner.