Arpan Raths detained by villagers in Cuttack 

The villagers and beneficiaries of Nuapatna Panchayat under Narasinghapur block in Cuttack district detained seven Arpan Raths on Friday over allegedly not receiving PDS rice for seven months.
 
According to sources, the beneficiaries have not received their quotas of free PDS rice for seven months. Today, when the Arpan Raths were taken out in processions, the fumed beneficiaries and villagers detained the raths, leading to a chaotic situation. 

On being informed, Narasinghapur BDO Nilamadhab Suna reached the spot and managed to persuade the agitating villagers to let the raths go.

“After coming to know about the beneficiaries’ problems, I am going to have a meeting involving the beneficiaries and dealers. Thereafter, appropriate steps would be taken in this regard,” said the Narasinghapur BDO. 

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Similarly, alleging misappropriation of money in the name of Arpan Rath, the villagers of Polasagora under Kantamal block in Boudh forced the raths to return from their village. 

Earlier, as many as 22 sarpanches had resigned from their posts in Telkoi block of Keonjhar district on Thursday, alleging that the district administration is neglecting them in the ‘Arpan Rath’ programme. They had alleged that the block development officer (BDO) of Telkoi had promised them to give Rs 2 lakhs each. But, now he has written letters to them informing they would be paid Rs 1 lakh each.