In Shopian, DDC member’s husband demands bribe from youth

SHOPIAN — A woman DDC member’s husband from Shopian is demanding bribe from a contractor, and the audio of the demand has gone viral.

JK Apni Party’s vice president for Shopian district – Abdul Qayoom Shah, husband of Nigeena Akhtar, the DDC member from Chitragam constituency of Shopian – is heard demanding bribe from unemployed youth in lieu of giving them MGNREGA work.

Nigeena had contested the Chitragam reserved seat elections on a PDP ticket but after winning the seat, she joined Apni Party.

In the audio, the caller, an unemployed youth from Shopian, is telling Shah that he wants to get resolution of development which needs the signature of the DDC member. Shah in turn tells him that the work will be done and he should bring maal (bribe) with him.

Several unemployed youth from Shopian said that the concerned authorities should take action against the DDC member. “The DDC members from Apni Party have become a mafia as they demand bribe from every development work in the district,” locals said.

They said the DDC members were elected for smoothening of development work in rural areas but they have become another layer of bribery seeking mafia in Shopian.

Locals and activists have demanded action from authorities concerned against the DDC member and her husband.