The Kantabanji police on Monday arrested three Common Service Centres (CSC) operators and detained three more for their alleged involvement in crop insurance irregularities at Turekela block in Bolangir district.
According to sources, the CSC operators were involved in issuing forged crop insurances policies against land belonging to farmers in and around Turekela area.
During the course of investigation, the police have also exposed the involvement of several other CSCs in such corrupt practices, sources said, adding that the three arrested accused have been forwarded to a court.
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The police action was subsequent to an expose by one Dhanurjay Meher of Chaulasukha village who filed a written complaint in this regard with the Kantabanji police.
“I met the Tehsildar and informed him about the irregularities. Later, I approached police and lodged a written complaint. The Kantabanji police assured me of action against erring officials,” Meher said.
Further investigation into the matter is on even as the police continue questioning the three detainees to unearth more details about the irregularities.
The irregularities come in the backdrop of the claims made by the Odisha government of introducing several stringent measures to contain corruption by officials in the State.
It is worth mentioning here that the Jajpur district Collector on Sunday had suspended three officials including a junior engineer for their alleged involvement in irregularities in various developmental projects of Jari panchayat under Binjharpur block in the district.
The suspension of the officials by the Collector came days after villagers staged a protest in front of the Panchayat office alleging large-scale irregularities in several projects in the village.