A shocking case has emerged from the Haldi police station area of Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh, where an 80-year-old living resident was allegedly shown as dead in official documents to deliberately halt his old-age pension out of personal enmity. Taking cognizance of the matter, the local police have registered an FIR against three individuals, including the then Block Development Officer, the then secretary, and the then village head. The complainant stated that he had supported a rival candidate during the village head elections, which led to a bitter feud with the village head.
FIR Registered Against BDO, Village Head and Secretary
According to the police, based on a formal complaint filed by 80-year-old Vishnu Dayal Dubey from Dopahi village under the Haldi police station jurisdiction, a case was registered last Friday. The FIR names the then BDO of Dubhar block, the then secretary Pramod Kumar, and the then village head Maria Gupta under Section 261 of the BNS for tampering with government sealed materials and Section 120B for criminal conspiracy. Law enforcement authorities are currently investigating the matter to uncover all facets of the fraudulent manipulation.
Living Vishnu Dayal Dubey Shown Dead on Paper
Detailing the contents of the registered FIR, Ballia police noted that the complainant is a poor individual who had been receiving the benefits of the old-age pension scheme until 2023. However, he later discovered that official records had branded him as deceased, resulting in the abrupt discontinuation of his financial assistance. The elderly man, who relied heavily on the pension for his daily subsistence, was stunned to find that administrative paperwork had been falsified to strip him of his rightful benefits.
Punishment for Supporting a Rival Candidate in Panchayat Polls
As per the allegations leveled by the complainant, this punitive action was taken against him simply because he backed alternative candidates during the local village head elections. Furthermore, the complainant alleged that two other residents of his village, Bhrigunath Choubey and Kavilash यादव (Yadav), were similarly marked as dead in the official documentation due to the exact same political vendetta, depriving multiple families of state welfare.
Police Investigation and Administrative Strictness
Bairia Circle Officer Alok Gupta stated on Saturday that an official case has been registered and exhaustive inquiries are underway. This incident comes in the wake of a recent review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath regarding the social welfare department and Sarvodaya schools, where he issued strict directives concerning student scholarships and pensions for senior citizens. During the meeting, the Chief Minister instructed officials to verify pending applications of eligible elderly individuals who remain deprived of old-age pensions and ensure they receive benefits at the earliest.
