Fraudsters Dupe Ujjwala Beneficiaries In Odisha’s Balasore

Balasore: Beneficiaries of the centre’s Ujjwala Yojana in villages under Bahanaga block of Odisha’s Balasore district have been allegedly duped by fraudsters recently.

According to sources, the fruads collected documents for free LPG connections which never materialised. Instead, subsidies appeared in bank accounts.

The victims realised that they had to pay Rs 1400 at a gas agency for cylinders and accessories. Civil supplies officer Niranjan Das confirmed evidence against the agency and assured action, sources added.

The cons visited houses in Aruhabada, Bishnupur, Abhana, Dolapur and Kalyani villages in Bahanaga eight months back and collected the documents.

“Though months have passed, the beneficiaries did not get the gas connection. However, after some days, money got credited to the bank accounts of some of the beneficiaries,” a local said.

When inquired about the transaction at the bank, they were surprised to know that it is subsidy amount which has been credited to their account even if they did not get the gas connection, he added.

They discovered having an LPG connection at an agency in Padhuan of Basudevpur block. When the duped beneficiaries approached the gas agency, it allegedly took Rs 1400 from them and handed over gas cylinder, regulator, gas stove and gas pipe, sources added.