Imphal, October 10 2008: Observing that the public are suspicious of the possible involvement of State security forces in the attempt to smuggle fertiliser to Myanmar, the Opposition MLAs of MPP today fired salvos at the CM in the Assembly demanding to know how the fertiliser laden trucks could have passed the police check posts located all NH-39 .

In his response, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who is also in-charge of Home, said that an inquiry is already underway and there is no involvement of IRB personnel in the case.

Raising a call attention motion, MPP MLAs Dr I Ibohalbi and Dr Ng Bijoy drew the attention of the Chief Minister to the recent incident of arresting of some UG cadres along with 2500 bags of urea intended for smuggling to Myanmar.

Dr Ibohalbi pointed out that the incident came just a day after the Agriculture Minister had given assurance on solving the problem of shortage of fertilisers by the farmers in the State during the Assembly session on October 6 .

Demanding to know whether the laws framed by the MLAs in the House are being implemented properly, Ibohalbi categorically stated that the public are now suspicious over the possible involvement of law implementing agencies in the smuggling attempt.

Although the Government had not been able to lift adequate quantity of fertilisers required by the farmers, it was an attempt to smuggle off the little quantity that had been lifted to Myanmar to earn profit, he said, while demanding to know whether the Government has any control over the fertilisers.

The MLA said that earlier it was an underground organisation which is a party to the Suspension of Operation that was suspected to be involved in the incident, but now the needle of suspicion has pointed to the State police forces.

He further said the fertilisers have been loaded from the house of one M Shanta of Kakching Wairi Mayai Leikai and were being escorted by some IRB personnel attached with Kakching Police when the trucks were intercepted by the Assam Rifles.

It appears that one of the UG groups which had signed Suspension of Operation and the State forces are involved in the incident, the MLA said and asked whether the transporters and the dealers concerned have been identified or not.

Drawing the attention of the Chief Minister, MLA Ng Bijoy said that he would like to know from where the fertiliser which was being smuggled to Myanmar had come from when there is shortage of fertiliser supply in the State.

He also questioned how the fertiliser laden trucks managed to pass the police check posts located all along the Imphal-Moreh road, how far the denial of UKLF is valid and what action the Imphal-Moreh road, how far the denial of UKLF is believable and what action the Government has taken up so far.

In his reply to the call attention motion, the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said there the report of intercepting the fertiliser laden trucks from being smuggled to Myanmar and the arrest of some persons in this connection by the Assam Rifles is true and an inquiry is already underway to find out how the trucks managed to slip pass the police outposts.

The inquiry has, however, ruled out involvement of 3rd IRB personnel in the incident.

The Chief Minister further said that the 13 trucks (Shaktiman) carrying in all 1870 bags of fertiliser including 670 bags of Potash and 1200 bags of Urea were taking a lateral track from Heikakpokpi with the intention reaching Khudengtabi via Saivom and Sita Lamkhai to escape police check posts.

Passing through this route can escape Tengnoupal Police check post, he added.

The Chief Minister asserted that the fertiliser laden trucks were being escorted by four cadres of UKLF which is a party to the Suspension of Operation and the four cadres have been arrested along with arms and they are in the judicial custody now.

Further investigations are on to find out how the UKLF has come to involved in the incident.

The Chief Minister further informed the House that it is at the stage of screening the cadres of the UG groups which are party to the Suspension of Operation and the Govt is considering to take up legal action in case of violating the ground rules.

It is very likely that the fertiliser had been kept concealed while there was demand.

Necessary instructions have already been given to blacklist those dealers who do not carry out their duty of lifting the fertiliser properly.

None of the agent or officials who were found involved in the case would not be spared, the Chief Minister assured the House.

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