Imphal, May 03: Following strict instructions from Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh an official of the district administration of Churachandpur has been arrested and detained under the National Security Act for allegedly siphoning off three months quota of AAY and BPL rice meant for the district.

Disclosing this to The Sangai Express today, a well placed source said that the story dates back to last year and identified the arrested official as Official Representative for Rice (LDC rank) Md Ahmed Ali.

He was picked up on April 28.Giving details of the case, the source said that Ali in his report submitted to the then DC of Churachandpur on October 27, 2006 had stated that rice for the district was lifted from the FCS godown for the months of January, March and June.

The total quantum of rice lifted, as per his report, was 8602 quintal for AAY and 6457.85 quintal for BPL.

However when the DC office of Churachandpur district contacted the FCS Directorate, the FCS authority sent a WT message claiming that rice for the months of January, February, March, May, June and July had been lifted.

Therefore the rice was lifted for six months and not only three months as reported by Ali, contended the source.

For the three unaccounted months the rice lifted was 1619 quintal (AAY) and 2739 quintal (BPL) for the month of February, 1619 quintal (AAY) and 2739 quintal (BPL) for the month of May and 1619 quintal (AAY) and 3811 (BPL) for July, said the source.

Apart from the missing rice for three months, it has also come to light that the district's share of 1400 metric tonne of sugar for the month of July, 2006 has not been reported.

When investigation started into the matter, the official concerned, Md Ahmed Ali, reportedly submitted the utilisation certificates for the three missing months to the authority of the FCS Directorate.

What is interesting is that the utilisation certificates were issued by some MLAs of the district then, said the source and added that MLAs are not authorised to issue such utilisation certificates.

To make his point clear, the source mockingly questioned, "Can an MLA issue ST and SC certificates ?" For the record only the DC and the District Supply Officer can issue such utilisation certificates.

With the matter reaching the Chief Secretary, strict instruction was issued to arrest the involved person under the NSA, said the source and added that the arrest was effected after the DSO of Churachandpur lodged an FIR with the district police.

Comment