Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, May 26: A number of files, documents and computers were destroyed after fire suddenly started burning in Laila gram panchayat office in the taluk in the early hours of Wednesday May 25. Some locals have alleged foul play.

Some neighbours who saw smoke billowing out of the gram panchayat office at around 6 am on Wednesday passed on information to the gram panchayat vice president and officials. Thereafter, fire tenders rushed to the village and took up the work of dousing the fire with the support of villagers. Major destruction happened inside the computer room where computers, files, records etc were burnt down due to this fire.

While gram panchayat officials have blamed short circuit for the accident, reportedly Mescom officials did not support this theory. There is information that on Wednesday, audit of accounts pertaining to the last two years was scheduled to be held in this gram panchayat. This has given rise to speculation of mischief. However, the closed circuit TV camera installed in the gram panchayat office reportedly does not contain any incriminating footage. Zilla panchayat deputy secretary, Umesh, and other officials visited Laila on Wednesday and inspected the loss.

In the meantime, a person from Laila, Nagaraj, has filed a complaint with the police station here, alleging that fire was purposefully ignited by vested interests with the specific intention of destroying records. He asked the authorities to investigate the incident properly as there are several complaints about the affairs at this gram panchayat including with Lokayukta.

The incident also was raised by several people at the Karntaka Development Programme meeting held on Wednesday. Responding to the doubt expressed by a number of participants at the meeting, the MLA instructed the concerned to hold a detailed investigation and submit report thereof.