Bappi Ray, a journalist with Sahara Samay, Chhattisgarh bureau, based in
Dantewada, is being harassed by the collector of Dantewada district, Dr. OP
Choudhary. Earlier this week, the collector had badly beaten up a laborer,
Budhram Rathore. Mr. Rathore filed an FIR against the collector in Geedam
police station. Bappi did a story on that with an interview with the
laborer. Since then, his harassment by the district authorities has begun.
He has now been asked to vacate the house where he and his family have been
living since last ten years. Bappi has been paying the property taxes for
the same.
There are several allegation of corruption against the district
collector, Dr Choudhary. These include charges of mismanagement of funds
under the Rajiv Gandhi Education Mission (RGEM) and the anti-maoist
Integrated Action Plan (IAP) scheme. Bappi had filed RTI queries demanding
details of the allotment and utilization of funds in the district under the
RGEM. He never got a response to his RTI. Subsequently, Bappi filed an
appeal. Since the collector himself is the first appellate authority, once
again, there was no response.
An email from Bappi and the supporting documents are attached with this
email. He can be reached at 09424279014. The collector, Dr. Choudhary, can
be reached at 09435558220.
Note that, Bappi was, in October 2010, instrumental in securing the
release of four cops, who were abducted by the maoists. He had then earned
praise from the chief minister, Dr. Raman Singh.
(http://www.indianexpress.com/news/after-12-days-maoists-release-4-abducted-cops/690843/0)
Dr O.P. Choudhary had replaced the widely respected Mr. Prasanna as the
district collector in March 2011. Mr Prasanna was transferred after he
announced a probe into allegations of police excesses in three villages
including Tadmetla.
Under Mr. Prasanna, Dantewada was the district with one of the highest
utilization of IAP funds. Since his transfer, the district is faring very
poorly.