Youth loots pension money being disbursed in panchayat office in Odisha’s Keonjhar

Anandapur: A youth allegedly looted the pension money that was being disbursed by a gram rozgar sevak (GRS) today afternoon to widow, old-age and SSEPD (Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities) beneficiaries at Saladei panchayat office in Keonjhar district.

According to an official source, the incident was reported from a village under Ramachandrapur police limits and Ghasipura block. The exact amount looted has not been ascertained yet.

At around 12.45 pm, the GRS named Ashok Sahu was disbursing the pension money.

All of a sudden, the accused identified as Nilamani Dalei from a nearby village entered the panchayat office and indulged in an altercation with Sahu over an issue not known so far. After the GRS opposed to it, the youth beat him and decamped with the pension money.

Later, the GRS lodged an FIR with Ramachandrapur police in this connection. Acting on which, a police team initiated a probe into the incident, which is underway.

Police have launched a manhunt to nab Nilamani and recover the stolen money.