A whistleblower, who had brought allegations of irregularities in the Fakir Mohan College playground renovation work recently, was threatened for life by unknown miscreants.
The person, Sairul Haque, has lodged a complaint with police.
“When I was on a morning walk on Thursday, two bike-borne (Bullet make without registration number) unknown persons intercepted me, showed a knife and asked me not to raise voice any more about the college field renovation work, else I would face dire consequences,” Haque said and informed that he has submitted written complaints with the Town police and SP as well.
Notably, students as well as local intellectuals had alleged financial irregularities in the playground renovation work before Higher Education Minister Ananata Das when the latter visited the college on Monday. They alleged that substandard work has been done and no development marked in the field even after Rs 68 lakh was spent.
“The ground is not levelled. Waterlogging will continue to remain as a problem during monsoon season. It appears hardly any work was done to make the field green. The field remains unworthy as before even after Rs 68 lakh was spent,” said Susanta Jena, a Plus Three final year student.
“The field was almost in abandoned state for about 35 years due to want of maintenance and care. Despite spending Rs 68.1 lakh, the condition of field remains unchanged. We feel the fund has not been utilised properly,” said Sairul Haque, an alumni of the college.
However, Executive Engineer Mahesh Mohanty said a lot of works have been done with the funds. The money was spent for renovation of 10,000 sq feet area.
“Ground has been levelled, drains and footpath constructed, paver block laid around the field, lighting system put up and fresh grassing done with the fund,” said Mohanty . He said some patches of the field are looking yellow due to lack of adequate watering.
Minister Das said he has asked the Worked the department to rectify the shortcomings, as pointed out by students and others, in one month time.
When contacted, lolcal MP Rabindra Kumar Jena said, “The department has been directed to stop payment of the contractors until the field is renovated.”
In another development, a journalist too lodged a written compliant with police fearing risk on his life. He said that he had published a news item in his newspaper about illegal construction on the Government land near the Sahadevkunta police station.
“Acting on my news item, the district administration demolished constructions. Thereafter, I received a threat call from an unknown number,” said Ranjan Baug, the aggrieved journalist.