MOKOKCHUNG, FEBRUARY 26 (MExN): The Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) today expressed concerned at the lack of progress of the investigation into the PDS Rice Scam in the town, which came to light earlier this month. A press note from the MTLT lamented that even after nearly a month there is no clear-cut progress of the investigation process.
According to the Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner “three persons were apprehended while another person was absconding.” The MTLT recalled that on February 14, the Food & Civil Supplies Secretary had stated that “if any official(s) or staff or PFS(s) is found guilty,” the department would take appropriate action.
The MTLT questioned why the fourth person involved in the case, “who is said to be a store-keeper in the Food and Civil Supplies Department Mokokchung,” is yet to be arrested. It further questioned whether the concerned store keeper has been suspended.
Further, the MTLT demanded that the full report and recommendations of the government formed Inquiry Committee into the issue be made public. It recalled that the Mokokchung DC had informed that the Inquiry Committee’s report has been submitted, which includes its findings and suggestion in the report. It therefore demanded that the administration divulge the full report at the earliest.
The MTLT informed that as per the ‘Suo-moto complaint’ case number - PS-I case No 003/16 u/s 7 EC Act 12/w 482/483/486/PC – registered on January 31, 2016, the raiding team found 123 FCI empty rice-bags and around 520 rice bags of ‘Swastik Brand’ inside a store in Tongdentsuyong ward and 35 empty ‘Swastik Brand’ inside another store in Arkong Ward.
According to the police, “FCI rice is diverted to the open market for sale under the brand name ‘Swastik Brand’ and it was also found that they were using rice bag stitching machine to pack the rice in ‘Swastik Brand’ rice bag.” “With all the details at hand, what makes the authority stop in expediting this serious case? It must be understood that public patience is reaching its limit,” the MTLT stated. It questioned why the authorities are “taking so long to indict those people who are named in the police complaint.”
The MTLT further alleged that the Additional Director of Supplies (ADS) Mokokchung would “often direct” a Fair Price Shop to disburse the PDS rice to “those who seek the rice carrying VIP chit.” It asked why this was done and on what official grounds does the ADS dispense such VIP chit distributions. It further questioned how and why there was excess quantity of unaccounted PDS rice at the said godown.
The MTLT demanded that the concerned authority urgently expedite the case and book those found guilty in the scam, and to make known the steps taken regarding the scam. It further cautioned that “if the authority fails to meet our demands, the MTLT would have no option but to take our own course of action at will.”
