A B Sharma
Early Times Report
Reasi, Apr 8: Tables turned over Forest Department Pouni, Reasi , when after a news item published in ET over the bribe demanded by the department's official from a poor trolley driver took to task its officials.
The forest department officials today reached Reshan Singh's house with Rs 8000 and also pleaded before him to give some money to the news correspondent of the ET to withdraw the news.
Resham Singh who was harassed by the forest department officials since a week ago by seizing his trolley, refusing it to release unless he paid Rs 10000, as distribution money to forest officials, today refused to take back the money and said that the news carried will be taken at its face only.
This left the official shocked for harassing a poor man and depriving him off his earnings.
Resham Singh, s/o Baldev Singh , r/o Gojuro Buliyan , Barakh in Pouni tehsil in Reasi was apprehended by the forest department officials when he was loading soil from a road side in his trolley on Monday , April 2, o throw soil on roof top of his Kuccha house.
The officials seized his vehicle and took it to forest department where the vehicle was kept for five days.
When helpless Resham Singh approached the officials , he was told to pay a penalty of Rs 10, 000, failing which they warned him of challaning his vehicle which could be release after three months' time .
The hapless Resham while talking to the Early Times said , Block Officer ( forester) who had seized his trolley also said that in wake of the money, a receipt will also be forwarded to Resham Singh .
" I somehow managed to collect Rs 8000 from some sources and paid the money to the official , who was reluctant to take the money demanding Rs 10,000 only," said Resham Singh , his recorded statement of which is with Early Times .
Resham Singh also said that the concerned official also said that since the money has to be divided in equal shares among the ranger and DFO of the area also, nothing less than Rs 10,000 can save his vehicle from standing still for three months . |
