Vigilance sleuths on Thursday arrested Gokula Mandal, Forest Guard (FG) of the Rajuda forest in Nabarangpur district, for demanding and accepting bribe of `2,000 from a village head to issue a money receipt of `200 for allowing grazing of cattle in the reserve forest.
Dharamu Majhi, Ghoda Danua village head, had in his complaint stated that villagers used to pay `200 annually to the Forest office towards use of forest land for cow grazing. But five days back, Mandal came to their village and warned them that he would not allow grazing of their cattle unless they pay `10,000 as bribe. Village head Dharamu requested him to reduce the demanded amount. Then Mandal reduced the amount to `4,000 and took `2,000 as advance and directed villagers to come to his office with rest amount of `2,000 to take the usual money receipt of `200.
Acting on Dharamu’s complaint, the Vigilance sleuths laid a trap and caught the FG red-handed while taking the bribe money. In another incident, Gunanidhi Dharua, Dealing Assistant of Nabarangpur District Social Welfare Office was arrested by Vigilance officers on the charge of taking bribe of `10,000 from Rupa Sarkar, president of the Maa Sharada SHG for not reducing the supply units of Chattua to Anganwadi Centres in respect of the SHG.
The Vigilance also arrested Kishore Chandra Jena, Sub-Assistant Registrar of the Cooperative Society, Fisheries, Chillika Circle, for taking bribe of `2,000 from Hatta Kishore Jalli, Sec of the Uttarayani Primary Fisheries Cooperative Society ltd for FISHCOFED training of its 50 members.