Arrest tainted BDO, villagers demand

BHADRAK: Bhadrak BDO Brajabandhu Bhola took additional charge of Tihidi block on Tuesday following the transfer of the incumbent BDO Gayadhar Mallick for alleged pilferage of relief material. The flood victims, however, continued their tirade against Mallick demanding his suspension and immediate arrest.Sources said Mallick was intercepted by some residents of Tihidi at Puruna Bazaar on the Bhadrak-Chandbali state highway about three days back. They found relief material, including 100 kg of cattle feed, 40 kg of flattened rice, molasses and bleaching powder stored in the four-wheeler.The villagers handed over the BDO to the police after they were promised legal  action against the erring  official. Though police detained the BDO along with his peon and driver for over 10 hours in the police station, they were let off without registering any case.Mallick was later transferred following the Chief Minister’s order.The villagers alleged that the police were trying to hush up the matter by stating that the BDO was on his way to flood-hit areas to distribute relief.“The cattle feed was meant for Chandabali block. How could he distribute it in Tihidi block and that too 15 days after the flood?” questioned District Bar Association president Gobinda Mohapatra.Since Mallick was caught red-handed with the relief material while on his way home, he should be booked under the Sections 403 and 409 of IPC for misappropriation of relief and criminal breach of trust by a public servant, he added.Meanwhile, Mallick, who rubbished the allegations, has been removed from Panchayati Raj Department and asked to report to the Revenue Department. An inquiry by a joint secretary-level officer has also been ordered.