E-Paper
Naxal factory: Home Dept quizzes BMC
THE STATE Home Department summoned information from the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) on how a gumashta licence for a lathe machine workshop was issued to a person, who had turned out to be a Naxalite and from whose workshop Naxalites? arm factory was recently unearthed in Bhopal. The BMC also suspended an officer on Wednesday for issuing licence for workshop without verifying facts.
THE STATE Home Department summoned information from the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) on how a gumashta licence for a lathe machine workshop was issued to a person, who had turned out to be a Naxalite and from whose workshop Naxalites’ arm factory was recently unearthed in Bhopal. The BMC also suspended an officer on Wednesday for issuing licence for workshop without verifying facts.
The BMC officials had issued a gumashta licence (certificate of establishing a shop) in the name of Bhaskar Engineering Workshop. The certificate gave the name of owner as Diwakar Patil son of Shivraj Patil, one of those who was caught during the raid on January 11 on the workshop and had turned out to be a Naxalite.
Yalvarthi Leelakrishna alias Diwakar Patil, a native of Guntur and member of Naxalites’ district committee, carries a reward of Rs five lakh on his head.
An inquiry conducted by senior BMC officials revealed that the deputy revenue officer Mohammed Arif Khan issued the licence without any spot inspection, something mandatory according to the Madhya Pradesh Dukan Evam Sthapana Adhiniyam 1958. Besides, the licence was issued by mentioning that Patil was a lone worker of the workshop. However, five persons were found working in this workshop.
The Home Department officials on Wednesday inquired about the action taken against officials responsible for issuance of the licence for the workshop. However, the BMC officers maintain the Labour Department is responsible for checking the number of labourers and what they are doing once the municipal corporation issues the licence.
When asked, BMC Commissioner Manish Singh said the DRO concerned was suspended for issuing licence without completing process in a proper manner. He said a letter is also being written to the Labour Department, which enjoy all powers under the Act.
Now, the BMC administration issued directives to the officials that the licence should be issued only after spot inspection and a list of gumashta licence holders should be sent to the Labour Department. The BMC is the first organisation to take action against its employees in this case. On the other hand, the Police are yet to take action against its cops posted in this area.
