Exclusive: GP Secretary Alok Gosh selling relief items in Katigorah, caught on video

There is a very common saying, popular especially among the senior citizens in Barak Valley. It goes, “Flood Relief is Laxmi’s Bhandar.” Which basically means, whenever a flood hits a region, the relief gets looted in several spheres. One such incident came to fore in Cachar district’s Katigorah area. Worst hit by the flash-floods Katigorah has hundreds in relief camps.

In Leverputa GP, the Secretary Alok Ghosh has been caught on camera where he is bargaining the items allocated to be distributed as flood relief. In a video, Ghosh is seen openly bargaining the price of essential commodities including Dal and Oil. He is heard saying, “Cannot give this below Rs 80 per kilogram.”

When the locals ask Ghosh, why is he selling the items sanctioned by Government as relief to the flood affected, he is heard responding, “I have to pay Rs 22,000 in the evening as cost of operations, where will that money come from.”

The conversation continues and the locals keep asking him several questions. However, he was clear with his decision and that was, “Nothing is for free”. Watch the video below.

When Barak Bulletin reached out to the GP Secretary, Alok Ghosh, he said, “There is no proof of any financial transaction between me and the locals. Also, whatever you have heard or seen are just verbal discourse. To manage the crowds at the relief site, we need to use such tricks and techniques. I have not done anything wrong and I am still on the field.”

He did not stop there. Ghosh asked Barak Bulletin correspondent about his residential address. In a conspicuous manner, Ghosh added, “In next couple of days I will be free from the field work and then we can meet at my house and talk.” While there was very little left to be discussed as he had already answered the question he was asked, his invitation to visit his house to discuss further seemed like a subtle offer to bribe the journalist.

Zila Parishad Chairman, Amitabh Rai said that he has heard about the incident and assured that the matter will be probed. “This government is clear with its zero tolerance policy and if the claims are true, no matter who he is, action will be taken as per the law,” said Rai.

While it was Alok Ghosh on camera, what remains unknown is who instructed Ghosh to sell the relief items. Can a Panchayat Secretary alone take such a big decision? He was heard saying that he needs to pay Rs 22,000 – to whom? Is this the beginning of looting the Laxmi Bhandar and how far has this reached. This video exposes many loopholes for the senior officers in the district administration to look into.