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Kerala Government Officials Arrested For Stealing Relief Materials Meant For Flood Victims 

Swarajya StaffAug 24, 2018, 04:21 PM | Updated 04:21 PM IST
A flood relief camp in Chengannur (Atul Loke/Getty Images)

A flood relief camp in Chengannur (Atul Loke/Getty Images)


As the nation rushes relief to the aid of flood victims in Kerala, a shocking story of government officials embezzling relief material has come to light.

Times Now reports that the Kerala police arrested two government officials in the Wayanad district on Friday (24 August) while were loading relief materials into a vehicle. These officials have been identified as S Thomas and MP Dinesh.

As per the report, residents of a relief camp in Panamaram village suspected that the officials were siphoning relief material and on being questioned, the officials initially explained that the materials were being moved to an adjoining camp.

However, the relief camp residents called in the police, and upon questioning, the concerned officials were found to be lying.

Reports have emerged from other areas like Chengannur about possible siphoning off of relief material. In Chengannur, the accused was a temporary government official.

It should be noted that the Kerala state government has sent 3-member teams of the Revenue Department to ensure proper distribution of relief material.

With Kerala reeling under the worst floods since 1924, these incidents are a cause for concern as pilfering of relief material would only prolong the misery of the long-suffering residents.

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