BDO Langstar Kharkongor (face covered) being produced before the chief judicial magistrate in Shillong on Wednesday. Picture by UB Photos

Shillong, April 6: The court of the chief judicial magistrate here today remanded the Mawryngkneng block development officer in two days’ police custody following his arrest yesterday for allegedly taking bribe.

Langstar Kharkongor, the block development officer of the Mawryngkneng community and rural development block in East Khasi Hills, 35km from here, was yesterday caught “red-handed” while taking Rs 45,000 as bribe as a “share” of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme funds.

The officer was arrested after a police team led by additional superintendent of police (crime) Vivek Syiem laid a trap on the BDO following a complaint lodged by Chandra Lyngdoh Nongbri, chairman of the village employment council , Wah Iing Syiem, Smit village. Kharkongor, who took over as the BDO about three months ago, was alleged to have demanded Rs 50,000 from Nongbri as a “share” from Rs 50 lakh sanctioned for implementation of NREGS works in the village. On Monday, Nongbri lodged a complaint against Kharkongor and had also paid Rs 5,000 to the officer, a part of the bribe.

The BDO was also alleged to have demanded from village heads around 10 per cent of the total funds sanctioned for various rural schemes under the block. Nongbri had first lodged a complaint with the East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Jopthiaw Lyngdoh and the superintendent of police (city) M.H. Kharkrang against the BDO. The district authorities then ordered for the sting operation to be carried yesterday. The police team went to the Mawryngkneng block development office and handed Nongbri Rs 45,000 to be given to the BDO so that he could be caught red-handed, sources said. Today, Kharkongor was produced before the chief judicial magistrate who remanded him in two days’ police custody. The BDO was booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The implementation of the NREGS in Meghalaya has been plagued with various complaints of anomalies either by the officers at the block level or by members of the village employment council.