Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Jul 9: “There are unfounded allegations in social media against Panjikallu gram panchayat after three workers died at Mukkada, Panjikallu gram panchayat limits due to landslide of a hill,” said Sanjva Poojary Pilingalu, gram panchayat president.

“It is the duty of the concerned to inform the local gram panchayat after untoward incidents happen. Blaming the panchayat without informing the house owner or others is not right. We have visited the spot and cooperated in the rescue efforts after rural police station SI Harish informed us. The villagers should ignore false propaganda. Low level politics is in progress at Panjikallu for publicity after three workers perished in a natural disaster,” he said.

“Inspections are conducted by us in the places of natural disasters and places where the disasters are likely to happen. Residents of nine houses in risky places are shifted to safety. Additional precautions are taken due to prediction of heavy rain. The team has 50 young men. It takes special care of the issues in the village,” he said.

He condoled the death of the labourers. He said that he contacted the MLA who was in Bengaluru, deputy commissioner, superintendent of police, assistant commissioner, tahsildar, police inspector and SIPDO soon after the incident for emergency operations. “The operation was conducted with the cooperation of local people and the gram panchayat. Unfortunately only one person could be rescued out of four workers. I thank all those who extended their help,” he said.

Gram panchayat members Laxminarayana Gowda, Poovappa Mendon, Balakrishna Poojary, Gopala and Mohandas were present.

Answering a question from a reporter if the gram panchayat has locked the gate of a private person, he said that he only saved the government land that was grabbed illegally.

“A complaint was registered in the rural police station in this connection and he agreed to close the gate. A person known as Padmanabha Samanth has sent false information over social media in this connection. A case is registered against him at the rural police station,” he said.