District Congress Committee Removes Salchapra BCC President Over Alleged Misappropriation of Flood Relief

In a decisive move, the Silchar District Congress Committee has terminated Nazrul Islam Barbhuiya from his post as President of the Salchapra Block Congress Committee. This action follows allegations of his involvement in the illegal custody of flood relief materials, raising serious questions about the integrity of local leadership.

On July 5, 2024, allegations emerged regarding the misappropriation of government-allocated relief intended for flood victims in Rajnagar GP, under the Borkhola Assembly Constituency. The relief materials, which included 240 sacks of rice, 80 sacks of lentils, 720 litres of oil, and 720 kg of salt, were supposed to aid those affected by the recent floods. However, reports surfaced that some of these materials were found stored in a shop in Rajnagar Patarigram, suggesting an attempt to divert them for personal gain.

The Congress Committee, led by President Abhijit Paul, responded promptly. Following the recovery of the relief materials by the district administration and police, a termination notice was issued to Nazrul Islam Barbhuiya on July 14, 2024. The order highlighted the serious nature of the allegations and the need to maintain the organisation’s reputation, pending further investigation.

The incident came to light on July 5, when locals accused Headmaster Enamul Haque Laskar and Nazrul Islam Barbhuiya of colluding to store the relief goods for illicit purposes.

The Cachar District Administration’s intervention prevented the misappropriation of vital flood relief supplies. Residents reported that, despite receiving some of the relief materials, a significant portion was allegedly withheld. This led to a raid by the authorities, who recovered the undistributed items and prompted a broader investigation.

Following heavy rainfall, the Barak Valley region has faced repeated flooding, displacing numerous families and heightening the need for prompt and fair distribution of relief materials. Misappropriating such resources undermines the efforts to support those in dire need and violates their rights to assistance during crises.

The termination order issued by the Silchar District Congress Committee was disseminated to several key figures in the Congress party. Copies were sent to Misbahul Islam Laskar, the MLA of Borkhola, along with Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble General Secretary of the AICC, I/C Assam; Bhupen Kr. Borah, Hon’ble President of the APCC; Debabrata Saikia, Hon’ble CLP Leader, Assam; Prthviraj Prabhakar Sathe, Secretary, AICC, I/C Assam; and Anwar Hussain, Hon’ble General Secretary of the APCC I/C Silchar DCC.