Dhavaleswaram: In a concerning incident, important documents from the Polavaram Project administration office in Dhavaleswaram, East Godavari district, were found burned outside the office gate. The incident, which came to light on Saturday, has raised suspicions and allegations of foul play.
The burned documents are reportedly related to the land acquisition department of the Polavaram Left Main Canal. When media personnel discovered the half-burnt papers, some were hurriedly moved inside the office. The timing of the incident, occurring while senior officials were on vacation, has only deepened suspicions. Adding to the controversy, the sweeper responsible for the burning reportedly left for Visakhapatnam soon after the incident.
Superintendent Kumari has come under scrutiny, with accusations being leveled against her. However, Rajamahendravaram RDO Sivajyoti and other officials downplayed the incident, claiming that the burned items were merely xerox copies and waste paper. Despite their assertions, evidence of handwritten papers with signatures in green ink, Aadhaar copies, photographs, and documents signed by farmers were found among the charred remains. Even empty liquor bottles were discovered at the site.
DSP Bhavya Kishori and District Fire Officer Martin Luther King inspected the scene, while Rajamahendravaram Rural MLA Gorantla Butchaiah Chaudhary visited the area and instructed the police to seize the burnt documents. The MLA assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted, and those responsible will face action. He also criticized the delay in transferring officials from the previous government, suggesting that such incidents could continue if not addressed.
Superintendent Kumari, who was in charge during the incident, claimed she was unaware of the document burning and insisted that the papers were of no significance. She maintained that there were no signatures on the documents, and that the truth would emerge through an investigation.
