Imphal, February 13, 2010: Farmers of sericulture in Imphal east district today expressed suspicion of diverting funds released for the farmers of the district under the Japan funded Manipur Sericulture Project by the some authority of the project in the name of an underground group in collusion with police commandos.

Speaking at a press conference called at Manipur Press Club by the Imphal East Sericulture Co-operative Federation Limited, a body of the sericulture farmers of Imphal east, its president N Dinoychandra alleged that out of Rs 1,27,19000 sanctioned and released for construction and repairing of structures mean for rearing, sapling and training etc.

Rs 50,000 had been cut down saying that the amount was mean for paying to one Rocky of PREPAK (project-1) by the former office bearers of the co-operative society.

The amount was withdrawn through two cheques, bearing no.149811 and 149812 amounting to Rs 25,000 each.

After withdrawal of the amount, they also tried to withdraw another amount of Rs 77.19 lakh but it could not be withdrawn due to on time intervention in the process by the present office bearers.

Former office bearers had allegedly engaged police commandos in processing for release of Rs 1 crore which the former officer bearers attempted to withdraw stating that it was mean for payment of monetary demand served by PREPAK, the president alleged.

Before the fund was processed for withdrawal, there held no consultation with the farmers or brought up to their knowledge.

The chegues were found when body searches were conducted to the former office bearers by the farmers when they come to Sangaipat sericulture office on December 14 last year.

At that time, they admitted the mistake committed by them and offered to resign.

After then, they were replaced by new office bearers in a meeting held at the conference hall of the Sericulture office at Sangaipat.

At the time of holding the meeting, Rocky of PREPAK (project-1) threatened not to hold the meeting and at the same time a team of police commandos of Imphal west led by an SI coming on Gypsy no.8 (as written on the side of the vehicle) attempted to pick up talkers in the meeting.

But when contacted with Imphal east police SP Th Radheshyam, they left the place without picking up the talkers in the meeting.

In the later part, an SI attached with the Lamshang police station name James Thangal while alleging the newly elected office bearers are working under PREPAK (project-2) objecting in converting the registration of the federation in the name of the newly elected body.

He also alleged that former body was still alive, there is no change in the office bearer of the federation, the president N Dinoychandra added.

He further observed that the intervention from various sides will hinder in implementation of the project funded by Japan government.

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