Challenge bails granted to fuel adulteration kingpins: NTC

Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) while supporting the stand of ACAUT against granting anticipatory bails to the fuel adulteration kingpins, has asked the state government to initiate immediate step to challenge the bail so that the process of investigation was not obstructed.

In a press note NTC media cell said it was an open secret that the business of fuel adulteration in Nagaland was allowed to run freely, till the time ACAUT Nagaland busted it. 

While not denying that every citizen of India has the legal privilege to approach the judiciary, NTC however said that the courts should be sensitive towards the public outcry and public interest issues.

It said that “the kingpin has taken advantage on the casual and callous attitude of the administration and taking shelter under a powerful protection, resuming the same business as reported is nothing but a total disregard to the popular resentment of the citizens of the State”.

NTC in this regard urged upon the state government to expeditiously and sincerely make a comprehensive investigation on the scam by a competent authority without complacency and to bring all the culprits to book in the interest of the people.

It also pointed out that with or without the involvement of ACAUT, it was the primary duty of the state administration to detect and root out such destructive business at its nascent stage. 

“It is therefore observed that fuel adulteration has the hobnob of the big and powerful at the expense of general public,” NTC added. 

Lauding ACAUT for detecting the illegal business and by exposing the culprits, NTC said the exposures were adequate for the state government to become serious and make a comprehensive investigation into it and punish those culprits. 

“Any negligence and tendency to become lethargic in serious investigation and follow up action of the Govt. will further expose the higher degree of possible involvements of the responsible people in the Govt.”, NTC said. 

 NTC has expressed serious concern over the threat meted out to a member of the ACAUT by cadres of a NPG in connection with the issue of 24% staff salary deduction of CMO office, Zunheboto.

“Such unholy alliance between the NPG and the greedy state govt. employees has been a menace not only to the gullible govt. employees but also has been the major pilferage of public funds over the years,” NTC said.

NTC, while condemning the threat and the indulgence of responsible government officers as agents of NPG, said it was a blatant violation of service rules. No government servant is allowed to serve two masters by law, it said adding, “if a responsible Govt. officer is not satiated with the facilities of the State, it is his liberty to quit the service but such incoherent double services are indeed a nuisance to public. These types of Govt. employees should be appropriately disciplined”.