Hundreds of residents from Naugwan Pakariya town in Pilibhit, led by town area chairperson Sandeep Kaur, met District Magistrate Gynendra Singh on Monday. They demanded strict action against individuals allegedly obstructing development work in the area.
Memorandum Submitted to DM
In a memorandum submitted to the DM, signed by nine of the 14 members of the town area committee, Kaur alleged that some of the accused were associated with the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), Tikait group. She claimed that one of the organisation’s office-bearers, Yashpal Singh, had 19 criminal cases registered against him, while others were former village pradhans.
Allegations of Extortion
Kaur alleged that the individuals were extorting money from beneficiaries of the PM Awas Yojana. “They threaten beneficiaries with denial of the second instalment if their demands are not met. They also file repeated false complaints against officials to harass the town area administration and its staff,” she said.
DM Assures Action
DM Singh assured the delegation that appropriate action would be taken after examining the matter.
About the Author: Keshav Agarwal has been with The Times of India since June 1, 2014, currently posted in Pilibhit. He specializes in reporting on forest and wildlife, environment, water resources, agriculture, and the sugar and ethanol industries. He also covers a broad range of other topics, including health and medicine, education, development, and crime.
