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| Afghanistan-Pak-India |
| Large scale fraud in earthquake compensation claims |
| 2005-11-06 |
| When the earth churned violently in J&K on October 8, turning peoples’ lives upside down, authorities were not aware that things would go so out of hand that cowsheds would be counted as bungalows. But a month after the devastating earthquake, that is what is surfacing in Kashmir — weird, faulty claims for compensation. And those lining their pockets at the cost of thousands rendered homeless by the temblor cut across fat sections of the administration — house surveyors, politicians and government officials. Large-scale fraud has been detected in the evaluation of damaged and destroyed houses in J&K. In many cases, members of one family, living under one roof, have been shown as owners of separate accommodations. In a few cases, cowsheds have been listed as double storeyed residential houses to allow its owners receive compensation of Rs one lakh. Bashir Ahmad Runiyal, the relief commissioner for Uri, said he would re-examine the list of damaged houses. He admitted that some of those on the "corrupt list" have already received the first installment of Rs 40,000 out of a total of Rs one lakh. "There are some allegations of wrong entries on the list and the persons responsible for the wrongs have been removed from the post," Runiyal claimed, adding that a case has been registered with the police for action against the accused. Sources in the know revealed that every fake claimant has had to shell out Rs 40,000 to grease the hand of government officials in order to get Rs one lakh. TOI is in possession of the list prepared by the relief commissioner for Uri. It shows 450 damaged houses where the figure should be 350. One Bashir Ahmad Mir, a clerk in the revenue department, got together with sub-divisional magistrate Bashir Ahmad Khan to show he had 20 houses. His "damaged houses" have been listed at serial numbers 1, 2, 5, 38, 42, 43, 86, 149, 150, 151, 154... There is another list which shows a husband-wife duo in Uri living in three separate houses. Even their minor sons live independently in houses they "own". Similarly, the family of one Kaka Singh is split into nine houses. The corruption, reminiscent of the one that had Gujarat convulsing after the Bhuj earthquake, is spreading as fast as the winter snow in Kashmir. "Politicians", Iqbal Lone of Uri said, "are at the forefront". The police recovered 800-odd blankets from the house of one Rafiq Balot, a Congress worker. This is when there are still thousands shivering due to absence of tents and warm clothes in cold-lashed J&K. |
| Posted by:john |
| #6 The billions that will be stolen by the Pak government will be from the West. According to the Pak physicist Pervez Hoodbhoy, the last time the Pak government received earthquake relief (in 1971), they used it to kick start the nuclear weapon program. |
| Posted by: john 2005-11-06 17:33 |
| #5 At least it is Indian money being stolen. They refused all offers of aid. |
| Posted by: john 2005-11-06 17:31 |
| #4 That's certainly one way to drum up money for more weapons. |
| Posted by: imoyaro 2005-11-06 16:32 |
| #3 PEMA Injuns |
| Posted by: Kojo 2005-11-06 11:17 |
| #2 Shocking! I hope it has nothing to do with the money I never sent. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2005-11-06 11:14 |
| #1 Typical |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2005-11-06 08:25 |