Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) has expressed concern over the lack of progress and delay in taking appropriate actions against those responsible in the PDS rice scam in Mokokchung. MTLT has also served an ultimatum demanding the full report on the ongoing investigation into the PDS rice scam.
In a press note, MTLT public grievances cell has demanded the concerned authority to urgently expedite the case and book those found guilty. While stating that one month time was enough, MTLT also demanded the authority concerned to make known the steps taken with regard to the scam and the actions taken.
Failing which, MTLT said it would be compelled to take their own course of action at will. In case of any eventuality, the authority concerned would be solely responsible, it added. It pointed out that even after a lapse of nearly a month, there was no clear-cut progress of the investigation process.
Citing the DC Mokokchung’s statement that ‘three persons were apprehended and another absconding’ and the Food & Civil Supplies (F&CS) secretary’s statement of taking appropriate action against ‘any official(s)/staff or PFS(s) found guilty’, MTLT questioned as to why the fourth person involved in the case, allegedly the Mokokchung store-keeper, was yet to be arrested. It also demanded to know whether the store keeper was suspended, in order to hold an unbiased investigation.
MTLT also stated that the public of Mokokchung have been kept in the dark about the Inquiry Committee report which was already submitted with its finding s and suggestions. It demanded the district administration “to divulge the full report of the enquiry committee at the earliest”.
As per the case registered on January 31, MTLT said that the raiding team found 123 FCI empty rice-bags and around 520 rice bags of ‘Swastik Brand’ inside a store and 35 number of empty ‘Swastik Brand’ inside another store.
MTLT said that the police in the complaint had mentioned that “during enquiry it was found that 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, MTLT questioned as to what was making the authority stop in expediting this serious case? It also wondered why the police or the concerned authority were taking time indict those persons who were named in the police complaint.
Meanwhile, MTLT said it was baffled to learn that a senior F&CS officer in Mokokchung allegedly used to direct a Fair Price Shop (FPS) “to disburse PDS rice to those who seek the rice carrying VIP chit”. It demanded to know why the official directed people to go to a particular FPS whenever PDS rice was requisition on ‘VIP chit’?
It also asked on what official grounds did the officer dispense such ‘VIP chit’ distributions? Further, MTLT questioned how and why there was excess quantity of unaccounted PDS rice at that particular godown?