Block Development Officer (BDO) Anirudh Singh Chauhan, who assaulted and abused District Magistrate Bhanu Chandra Goswami during the review meeting of development work in Agra, is absconding after the case was registered. Mobile is also switched off since last 24 hours. Police is raiding to arrest the accused BDO. On Saturday, activities in the matter increased from Vikas Bhawan to Collectorate. Assistant Development Officer (Panchayat) Pankaj Kumar has filed a case in the case of attack on the District Magistrate. After filing the case, Pankaj Kumar’s mobile number is also switched off. In this matter, District Magistrate Bhanu Chandra Goswami had sent a report to the government. On the instructions of the government, CDO Pratibha Singh relieved accused Anirudh Singh Chauhan from the charge of Barauli Ahir block on Saturday. Joint BDO Devendra Singh has got the charge in his place. Accused BDO Anirudh Singh has been sent to the Development Commissioner’s office in the village. Let us tell you that the District Magistrate has sent the report of the matter to the Commissioner Rural Development, GS Priyadarshi. It is believed that BDO Anirudh Singh may be suspended.
Accused BDO has old connection with controversies
On the other hand, BDO Etmadpur Amit Kumar, BDO Akola Sushmita Yadav and BDO Bichpuri Neha Singh, who were present in the meeting at the time of the incident, have distanced themselves from the matter. ADO Panchayat Akola Shailendra Singh Solanki and ADO Panchayat Khandauli Pankaj Kumar were also present in the meeting. According to the information, BDO Anirudh Singh Chauhan is a Provincial Development Service PDS cadre employee. Was posted in Etmadpur for three years. The charge against Barauli Ahir was received three days before the incident. During his posting in Etmadpur in the year 2020-21, the then Project Director Bhimji Upadhyay had inspected the block. Then the controversy escalated when the BDO was reprimanded when defects were found on the block. It is being told that then he ran after the project director with a sword. Vikas Bhawan officials had reached a settlement in the matter.
There was a rift between Panchayat and rural development officers
After the incident, officials of Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj Department are in splits. Where officers and employees of Rural Development Department are standing in favor of BDO. Officers and employees of Panchayat Raj Department are standing in favor of the District Magistrate. A meeting of both the groups was held on Saturday. In this, factionalism came to the fore. No result was achieved in the meeting. There will be a meeting again on Sunday. After this the further strategy will be clear. The dispute between the District Magistrate and the BDO is echoing on social media. It is being said on social media that the DM threw a paperweight on the BDO. In response the BDO hit him by throwing a shoe. However, there is no mention of shoe or paperweight in the complaint.