Jharkhand SIR: Pragya Kendras under scanner over forged residential certificates
Daltonganj, September 16: The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Jharkhand has led to delays of several days and,…
Daltonganj, September 16: The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Jharkhand has led to delays of several days and, in some cases, weeks in the issuance of caste, residential and income certificates from Anchal offices, as Circle Officers are engaged in electoral duties as Assistant Electoral Registration Officers.
Amid the delays, allegations have surfaced that some unscrupulous operators of Pragya Kendras are exploiting the situation by allegedly issuing fake, manipulated and forged certificates, particularly residential certificates.
Vigilant teams at SIR camps, however, have been checking such documents and detecting cases of suspected malpractice, sources said. Residential certificates have assumed particular importance during the SIR exercise as they are being used for verification and mapping purposes.
Sources said the district administration has advised electors to exercise caution and verify documents obtained through Pragya Kendras to avoid falling victim to fraudulent practices.
Palamu case raises questions
A recent case in Harihurganj in Palamu district has brought the issue into focus. An investigation is underway into an allegedly fake residential certificate submitted at an SIR camp within the jurisdiction of Harihurganj police station.
The incident relates to September 12, when an FIR was lodged by the Circle Officer, Harihurganj, against a woman elector identified as Fatima Parween of Ansari Bigha, under Harihurganj police station limits.
Officer-in-Charge of Harihurganj police station Debobrat Poddar said on Tuesday, September 15, that the woman had accused a roadside Pragya Kendra of issuing a fake residential certificate in the name of her father.
She also alleged that the Pragya Kendra had tampered with another residential certificate and used it to prepare a fabricated document in her name.
According to sources, questions are also being raised over why the woman submitted the allegedly fabricated certificate at the SIR camp despite being aware of the alleged irregularities surrounding the document.
A police officer said the circumstances of the case were unusual, as the woman had allegedly become aware of the Pragya Kendra’s actions but nevertheless submitted the document during the SIR process.
Police have registered a case under various sections of the BNS and Section 31 of the RP Act, and further investigation is underway.
