Food Corporation of India Depot in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district has allegedly become the hub of corruption where Weight Bridge men in connivance with officials are looting truckers in broad day light.Reports said that truckers have been frequently registering the protest against weight bridge men and officials at FCI Kupwara alleging that each trucker has to pay Rs 1200 to unload the and weigh their load. “We are helpless and pay bribe to the tune of Rs 1200 to get our trucks unloaded at an earliest. Those who refuse to grease the palm of the Weight Bridge men get stuck there for days’ togather,” said a group of truck drivers to news agency CNS.“Weight Bridge men have categorically informed us that they have clear instructions from the officials to collect Rs 1200 from each trucker,” they added.
The agitated drivers said that besides collecting Rs 1200 from them, the Weigh Bridge men demand bribe from them separately. “It is a big scandal. Keeping in view the number of trucks that unload rice, flour, sugar and other material at the depot, it comes to Rs 30 lakh bribe per month, which is a huge amount,” said a driver. Interestingly, the purported video of a Weight Bridge man has gone viral on the social media. The video has been shot at FCI Kupwara Depot. In the video, the old Weight Bridge man has been demanding and accepting Rs 1200 bribe from a driver.An official from FCI Kupwara declined to comment on the issue while the Deputy Commissioner Kupwara said he will get the matter investigated. “Please send me the video that has gone viral. I will definitely investigate the issue and action will be initiated, if the allegations are found correct,” Khalid Jehangir, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara said.