NPF has expressed concern over the sudden turn of events at Dimapur following the busting of the alleged PDS rice scam by ACAUT and CCN, which also resulted in closure of shops as directed by DUCCF on Wednesday.
NPF media & press bureau in a press note however said “it is in fact the ill advice of those individuals who ordered to pull down the shutters of shops at a time when people from all over the state are thronging in Dimapur for Christmas shopping.” NPF further maintained that it was not wise on the part of some individuals and organizations to hurl wild allegation against the present government.
Reminding that the government of the day was serious on all the issues raised by individuals or organizations, NPF said “almost all the concerns expressed by the citizens of Nagaland have been examined and pursued with all seriousness”.
It however expressed dismay, saying some individuals chose to take law into their own hands, which compelled the district administration to take cognizance of such activities.
NPF said, the surprise raid on some godowns at Kevijau and Lhomithi colonies, jointly carried out by ACAUT with members of the Concerned Citizens of Nagaland, has rather “raked up more of clumsy rhetoric devoid of anything worth logical or ethical”. The godowns were sealed by unauthorized persons/group without the knowledge of F&CS or FCI, it added.
“The style or method that was adopted to carry out the entire exercise itself has manifested volumes of lawless acts of hatred, frustration, threat and trespassing by the very perpetrators, which are simply unacceptable in the eye of the law,” NPF stated.
In this regard, NPF pointed out that since the godwons were being run by authorized operators on contract, it was mandatory to establish legal procedures to deal with any suspected mishandlings, mismanagement or malfunctioning that may arise in case of individuals, groups or companies.
However, after NFSA was implemented, NPF said the present government had streamlined the PDS in the state and goods were being directly delivered to all nook and corners of the state fairly.
Citing ACAUT’s claim that the godowns had cores of rupees worth of PDS food grains, NPF said such action (sealing off of godwon) would mandatorily warrant the proprietor(s) or authorized personal(s) or any law abiding and sensible person to immediately report the matter to the law enforcing agency for security and necessary action.
This was exactly what R.Z Lotha, M/s. Lotha Trading Company, state stockists under Food & Civil Supplies had done, NPF stated.
NPF defended the action of the district administration, saying it should not be construed as high handedness. “It is the bounden duty of the district administration to maintain law and order within the jurisdiction”, said NPF.
With the godwons sealed, NPF said people living in remote areas would now be immensely affected since the items inside the godowns were meant for distribution to other districts and not for Dimapur citizens. Therefore, NPF has urged upon all concerned to refrain from taking law into their hands. Further urge upon the citizens to take up their grievances if any, to the appropriate forum instead of creating anarchy in the society.