Keonjhar: Farmers are not only under the shadow of other agricultural woes; they are also dealing with con agents who got them cough up money in getting a tube well dug up, report said.
In this district these so called agents are using fake receipts of Lift irrigation department, with fake signature of the incumbent executive engineer to win the confidence of the gullible farmers.
After the stipulated time of promised installation, the farmers knocked the department’s door only to find they had been scammed. The imposters are nowhere to be found and the villagers are left awe struck.
In Telkoi area about 15 to 20 farmers have been cheated the same way. The dupers promised them tube well and collected Rs 1000 each against fake receipts. These farmers hence registered their written complaints at Telkoi police station but the police are yet to take any action against these swindlers; the delay in investigation raises further suspicion and is indirectly helping the alleged criminals fleece more such innocent farmers.
Similarly, 10 farmers from Tangarpada, nine from Bala, and two from Rengalbeda under Champua area have also registered complaints with the police station for similar incidence.
The farmers worried and eagerly waiting for the Police to their much needed action. Some days ago few farmers caught one of the conmen and handed over to the Kanjipani police. The police instead of taking any step against him let him go without any investigation.
As per the allegation, these fake agents are collecting money in advance through fake receipts. Seeing the department’s receipt and signature of the executive engineer, they can’t help believing the agents, they said.
While talking to OrissaPost, Yudhisthira Mahanta, a farmer from Tangarpada said a complaint had been registered with the Champua police station. “Neither have these conmen been arrested nor have we got our hard earned money back.”
When contacted, executive engineer, Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation Sudhakar Behera said there is no such system of collecting money from farmers through receipts. The police will take steps after verifying the receipts.
PNN