'Pankaj Kumar Pal is in Bihar's Gopalganj DM'
Dr Kishan, two sub-ordinate staff murder case
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 12 2011: When the hiding IAS officer Pankaj Kumar Pal appeared in the news as Bihar's Gopalganj DM, the JAC against the brutal killing of Dr Th Kishan Singh, Y Token Singh and A Rajen Sharma today prayed the court for issue of suitable instruction to the state government and police for action taken in connection with an FIR registered against him at Ukhrul PS.

The JAC, in a statement, reveals that DM Pankaj Kumar Pal, who was in news in various newspapers after a college principal in Bihar slapped him on last Thursday, is Pankaj Kumar Pal, who Manipur government had "persistently refused to divulge the whereabouts" .

For the last couple of days the incident of 'slapping' of Pankaj Kumar Pal was making national news headline.

Deputy CM Bihar, Sushil Kimar Modi has been entrusted to probe the incident.

The congress, RJD and CPM legislators of Bihar Assembly have criticized the alleged high-handedness of the DM and demanded action against him.

College and University teachers of Bihar have also demanded action against the erring officer taking strong exception to his alleged high-headedness.

The news has caught the eye of the JAC.

The JAC said "What has immediately drawn the attention of the JAC is DM, Gapalgunj happens to be 2002-batch IAS official Pankaj Kumar Pal" who is allegedly involved in the ghastly murder of Dr Th Kishan and his two subordinate staff.

As per an order of state Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms no.4/25/2003-AIS/DD dated February 19, 2009, Pankaj Kumar Pal was placed under suspension as Ukhrul DC for taking up disciplinary proceedings contemplated against him, the JAC said.

He was instructed not to leave Imphal HQ without obtaining prior permission from the Manipur chief secretary.

"The very presence of Pankaj Kumar Pal, IAS as exonerated of all charges against him by the government and sent on deputation to Bihar, the JAC observes.

It further alleged that the effort of the Manipur government to keep the whereabouts of Pankaj Kumar Pal a secret have gone for sixes.

"Evidently 'God tempers the wind to the shorn lamp'", the JAC said.

It further asked will the IO of the case (OC of Ukhrul PS) take pains to record the statement of Pankaj Kumar now when his whereabouts is known.

An FIR was registered against Pankaj Kumar in Ukhrul PS and the PS had submitted in the court where the case is pending that the concerned officer could not be located, the JAC recalled praying the court for issue of necessary directions in this regard.

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