Probe underway, twenty Meetei Mayek books burnt in inferno
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 15:
In a significant and remarkable co-incidence, two police officers of the rank of Additional DGPs have been relieved of their posts and kept on compulsory wait, with the order being issued the very day MEELAL activists burnt down the State Central Library on April 13.An order issued to this effect on April 13 said that the two senior officers, �C Peter Ngayanhui IPS, ADGP (Trg/HR/HG/Ops) and Y Joykumar Singh, IPS, ADGP (AP/LO) shall stand relieved of their present posts with immediate effect in public interest.
The posting of these two officers shall be decided separately pending which they shall be treated on compulsory wait�.
The order further said that the works of the two ADGPs shall be looked after by the next subordinate levels under the direct supervision of the DGP until further orders.
Meanwhile the State Government has ordered a departmental inquiry to probe into the facts and circumstances leading to the torching of the State Central Library.
Art and Culture Minister Ph Parijat issued the order to initiate the probe and Art and Culture Commissioner P Bhorot has begun the probe.
�The focal point of the inquiry is to establish the facts and circumstances leading to the arson of the library and to find out whether the staff had attempted to foil the act or acted on the diktats of the arsonists,� the Commissioner said.
�I have already started the investigation and the statements of the chief librarian H Devendra and some other staff have been recorded.
Besides I have also visited the spot,� added Bhorot.
Responding to a query, Bhorot said that the process of restoring the rare books burnt in the arson will start after the inquiry is finalised.
The Commissioner is to submit his inquiry report to the Government within two weeks starting from today.
Parijat said that fitting action will be taken up as per the reports of the investigation.
The Minister further said that efforts will be taken up on a war footing to open the library to the public soon.
The Central Library will now be shifted to the Library cum State Archives building at Keishampat just bang opposite to the site where the Central Library once stood.
The State Government will approach the Raja Ram Mohun Roy Library, Kolkata to supply needed books and records for the library to open to the public soon, added the Minister.
The Centre will also be approached to sanction additional funds to infuse new life into the library, he added.
A total of 20 books written in Meetei Mayek including Part III, volume III of the Meetei Mayek published by the Linguistic Survey of India were burnt during the act of arson, said the Minister.