By Smritika Banerjee
In a major anti-corruption crackdown, the Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell conducted widespread raids targeting the properties that belonged to Nupur Bora, a 2019-batch Assam Civil Services officer. The operation seized over Rs. 92.5 lakh in cash along with a significant amount of gold jewellery.
The execution of the operations connected to Bora simultaneously took place at four locations, including her residence in Guwahati and a rented property in Barpeta. Following the raids, the officer has been taken into custody as authorities intensify their efforts to combat corruption.
This has garnered attention from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who revealed that the officer in question had been under government inspection for the past six months. Sarma alleged that while serving as a Circle Officer in Barpeta district which is an area with a Muslim-majority population, Bora was involved in illegal activities concerning land transfers. The Chief Minister accused her of accepting bribes to facilitate the transfer of Hindu-owned land to Muslim buyers, raising concerns about corruption and land-related misconduct.
These incidents highlight a more broad issue that Assam has been dealing with. Chief minister Sarma proposed a policy to make the District Collector’s consent necessary for land sales between people of religions last year. This was followed by the recent approval of a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for inter-religious land transfers. The SOP makes it mandatory that such proposals will be forwarded to the DC’s officer for thorough checks by the Special Branch of the Assam police. The purpose of these checks is to look into any coercion, the purchase’s funding source, and the impact on “social cohesion” and “national security.”
The investigation into Nupur Bora’s case highlights the government’s firm stance against corruption, particularly within Assam’s minority-majority revenue departments, as emphasized by the Chief Minister. This move signals a strong effort to address irregularities and ensure transparency in land transactions amid the state’s diverse social fabric. As the inquiry unfolds, many are watching closely to see what new details will surface and how the case will develop further.