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Srinagar, Dec 15 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation today caught red-handed two forest officials for demanding and accepting a bribe.

A vigilance spokesman said the officials of the Pir Panchal Division, Badgam, were arrested for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 3000 from a person for issuing a no objection certificate (NOC) for setting up an industrial unit.

Mohammad Ibrahim Bhat, a resident of Odina Tehsil, Sonawari, lodged a complaint with the vigilance organisation, alleging that Firdous Ahmad Bhat, a Junior Assistant, had demanded Rs 8000 from him for issuing the NOC in favour of his disabled brother for setting up the unit (Wooden Joinery Plainer) in his village.

The complainant told him that he could not arrange the amount and the accused later agreed for Rs 3000 in the first instance.

The spokesman said a case was registered and investigations taken up. During investigations, a team of vigilance officials proceeded to Budgam along with the complainant and laid a trap.

Bhat asked his dispatch clerk Azmat Ali Qureshi to receive the bribe money from the complainant. The vigilance sleuths caught Qureshi red handed while accepting bribe. Both he and Bhat were later taken into custody for further investigation.

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