Source: Hueiyen News Service
Shillong, September 06, 2009:
An executive Engineer and an Assistant Engineer of the Engineering Cell of the Central Manipur University have been arrested by Imphal East police and recovered a sum of Rs 2 lakh allegedly collected from contractors for onward payment to KCP (MC), Lalheiba group yesterday.
Police have taken them into custody for two days till tomorrow after producing them before the court of the Duty Magistrate today.
A team of Imphal East police commandos rounded up Sanasam Rajen (55) of Thongju part-II working as Executive Engineer, Engineering Cell (Electrical), Manipur University and Laimayum Meghachandra Sharma (48) of Singjamei Thongam Leikai, Assistant Engineer (Civil) of the same engineering cell yesterday at about 11.30 am, a statement of the Additional SP, Imphal East district, K Tomba informed today.
Both were arrested from Thumbuthong near the basketball ground under Porompat police station where a team of Imphal East district police commandos rushed to acting on a specific information, he further informed.
A sum of Rs 2 lakh in cash in Rs 500 denomination was recovered from the possession of EE, Rajen which both revealed during spot verification that it was meant for handing over to the Lalheiba group of KCP (MC).
They also admitted that the amount was collected from contractors of the Engineering Cell of the Manipur University who are engaged in development of infrastructure of the university.
A case has been registered and investigation is on, the police officer disclosed.
It is worth mentioning here that in Manipur, engineers working in various engineering departments of the government are often forced by the militant outfits to collect percentage of the cost of the works they are engaged in on their behalf and hand over the cash to them.