The recent clash over auction of cashew and the hurling of bombs at the house of a pro-industry activist Tamil Pradhan has drawn focus to the alleged irregularities in auction of cashew plantations and the rigging that takes place. The divisional forest officer, Rajangar had invited bid for auction of about 40,000 cashew plantations of Badatanda forest of Nuagaon panchyat under Erasama tehsil on 11 and 18 January.

Each bidder has been asked to submit demand draft of Rs 50,000 towards security deposit. Local people alleged that prior to the auction there were negotiation between different bidders. At least 25 bidders were interested to take part in the auction. Later, these bidders were divided into two to three groups consisting of eight to ten bidders in each group.

Only one bidder is being selected from each group to participate in auction while others are not. Earlier, each bidder’s group also estimates the value of auction among them non-officially and decided to call low quoting auction during official auction. Later, one bidder who obtained cashew plantation auction has to pay fixed amount to other bidders who earn lakhs without participation in auction.

The successful bidder also makes a huge profit. On 11 January, DFO, Rajnagar awarded cashew plantation auction to one bidder Dhruba Pallei of Nuagaon village for at Rs 23.50 lakh while the second highest bidder was Susant Mallick at Rs 23.20 lakh. Total 23 bidders had submitted their DD towards security deposit.

The following offered amount was accepted by DFO, Rajnagar and asked to first bidder and second bidder but no one had paid their amount in which first auction was cancelled. On 18 January, another auction fetched about Rs. 1.92 lakh in favour of Susant Mallick while non-official valuation of said auction was Rs 13.50 lakh.

As per agreement, nearly 13 bidders who did not participate lent support to Mallick and wanted him to provide Rs 11.60 lakh towards their share.

Local goons of Kendrapara had alleged demanded Rs 5 lakh as protection money. Pro industry leader Mr Tamil Pradhan who was meditating supporting Mallick was targetted by goons as they had not been assured of their ‘protection’ fee.

They hurled crude bombs as he was returning home on 18 January. Meanwhile, the elected representatives and villagers of Nuagaon, Gadakujang, Dhinkia, Balitutha, Chatua, Baleipur panchyats led by Sarpanch of Gadkujang Mr Sampad Barik have united and sought the intervention of Chief Minister of Odisha , collector, SP, local MLA and MP about these issues and urged to fulfill their seven chatters of demands including to nab culprits on 18th January bomb hurling incidence, to conduct auction on Nuagaon instead of Rajanagar on safety ground, to open police outpost at Balitutha for security reason, to provide security to Mr Pradhan as his life is under threat.