Imphal, October 29: The Central Administrative Officer of the Zeliangrong Region of the NSCN (IM), L Golmei has categorically stated tat whatever the situation, the people of the hills and the valley should help each other in times of need and stressed on the need for both to live amicably.

Chatting exclusively with The Sangai Express, Golmei said that it is imperative that the valley people should see what ails the people in the hills and likewise the hill people too should do the same thing.

There should be mutual understanding through discussions and sharing of ideas, he added.

It is when the people of the hills and the valley start looking after the needs of each other, will there be mutual love and understanding said the IM leader.

Asserting that a number of underground outfits as well as Ministers and political leaders have been looting the public and siphoning off what belongs to the people, the CAO said that the civil society organisations of both the hills and the valley should investigate all such issues and accordingly fix responsibilities.

Coming down heavily on the prevailing trend of percentage cuts in supply and contract works, the CAO said that before the work order of any project is even issued, it has become a common practise for the Ministers and officials to deduct 15 percent of the total outlay.

On top of this some underground organisations are known to levy their percentage cuts sometime upto 45 pc.

Such a trend affects the quality of the work for the contractors, in their bid to earn a profit are constrained to compromise with their work, he observed.

"Let's leave aside the cuts levied by the UG groups and question where the money taken by the Ministers and the officers have gone," asked the CAO and added that such corrupt officers and Ministers ought to be pulled up by the public.

Even the poorest of the poor, are robbed of their monthly quota of 30 kgs of rice, he said and added that the rice meant for these people are being siphoned off by the officers.

The recent case wherein the NSCN (IM) impounded ten truckload of rice while they were being taken to Mizoram and Silchar for sale on the sly is a clear testimony of the poor being robbed of their rightful dues, he asserted.

The seizure of the ten trucks is just the tip of the ice berg, he said and added that the NSCN (IM) clearly knows that between May and October this year at least 350 to 400 truckloads of rice have been taken out from Manipur for sale in other States.

Explaining the modus operandi of the racket, the CAO said that once the rice laden trucks reach Imphal from the FCI godown at Dimapur, they are driven to the FCS godown at Sangaiprou.

The trucks wait without unloading their goods till the Sun sets, he said and added once it becomes dark, the trucks are driven out again to head for NH-53.The rice are unloaded at a godown owned by one Achito at Jirighat and at Chama godown located at Khasipur situated between Rongpur and Baskhandi.

From these godowns, the rice are taken to Mizoram and Silchar.

Stating that the NSCN (IM) knows some of the guys involved in the racket, the CAO identified them as Rajen and Iboton of Tera, Kamal from Singjamei and Kamal, Pappu Lalal and Natesh from Mantripukhri.

Some officials of the FCS are also involved in the racket, said the CAO and added that these officials have built godowns at their residences to store the rice.

The time has come for all to unmask these elements who have been robbing the poor, exhorted the CAO.

The mid-day meal scheme for school going children has also been reduced to a big joke in Manipur, said the CAO further.

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