DAN cabinet on Sunday declared as “illegal” the proposed indefinite bandh from Monday called by the Co-ordination Committee on Fuel Adulteration (CCoFA) as contained in a communiqué issued by Home commissioner Abhijit Sinha.
The communiqué informed that the cabinet took the decision Sunday after consideration of the bandh causing restriction on movement of essential commodities and services, besides causing inconveniences to the general public.
In this regard, Sinha also informed that district administration and police have been directed to take all necessary measures to ensure that free movement of all vehicles and public was not disrupted in any manner by any group or individuals.
The government has also requested public not to take part in the bandh but extend full cooperation to the law enforcement agencies.
Recalling the genesis of the issue, the communiqué said that based on specific complaints, police and administration on June 27, 2016 raided six locations in Dimapur and Chumukedima.
The team discovered that fuel adulterations were being carried out illegally and where several fuel tankers were seized and two cases registered at Diphupar PS and West Ps.
Considering the seriousness of the cases and the inter-district/inter-State ramifications, Sinha said an SIT headed by IG (Range) was subsequently formed by the state government on July 15,2016 for a thorough and detailed investigation.
Since the cases required investigations outside the state and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) reports of the samples collected yet to be received, Sinha said the SIT was unable to complete investigation and submit the chargesheets.
On October 15, the home commissioner said the cabinet, after deliberating on the representation submitted by CCoFA, decided that since the SIT investigation was in an advanced stage, it was not advisable to change the investigation agency at this juncture.
The cabinet also directed the DGP to instruct the SIT to submit chargesheets in the court within the next ten days. The decision of the Cabinet was then conveyed to the CCoFA and urged upon it to call off the proposed bandh, stated the home commissioner.
However, he said the CCoFA decided to go ahead with the indefinite bandh.
The Home commissioner lamented that the bandh had been called despite assurance given by the government that the SIT, whose mandate is to comprehensively cover all relevant issues connected with the subject matter as given in the two FIRs lodged with the Police in connection with the case, would be submitting the chargesheets in the next ten days.
Sinha recalled that a representation was received by the government on September 23 2016, from an organisation, “Coordination Committee of Civil Society Organisation on Fuel Adulteration”, demanding transfer of two cases to CBI and in case of failing to do so it threatened to enforce a Bandh on NHs within the State.
CCoFA to go ahead; refutes cabinet’s statement
Co-ordination Committee on Fuel Adulteration (CCoFA) has refuted the state cabinet’s statement, asserting that the proposed indefinite highway bandh from October 17 “has nothing to do with the SIT or the chargesheet to be filed by it, as supposed by the Cabinet”.
Making its stand clear, CCoFA media cell in a press note said that the bandh has been called in view of the state government’s failure to bring in the CBI to probe into the fuel adulteration scam, even after the 15-day deadline had ended.
While condemning the “confrontational attitude of the state government, rather than giving its assistance”, CCoFA reminded that the protest was “a moral battle between the vast majority of helpless citizens on one side and the insensitive government on the other side” and cautioned that the repercussions would be serious.
It said by adopting a confrontational attitude, the government has by default declared that it supports the alleged kingpins– Dinanath, Srikanth, Umesh, Naval and Ajay Prasad and would continue to support corruption.
Asserting it was “not bothered whether the SIT is filing its chargesheet within three days, or 10 days or after 1 month”, the committee said its main concern was to convey and highlight to the public that the “SIT cannot satisfactorily bring the case to its logical conclusion because the fuel adulteration issue is not merely confined to the five kingpins”.
“This racket involves virtually the whole of the Food & Civil Supplies Department, the DCs of the districts, and the politician,” CCoFA alleged.
It said public were not fools to believe that the SIT would dare charge-sheet the portfolio in charges of F&CS department in the last 15-20 years, if indeed they are found culpable.
CCoFA alleged that the SIT was formed with its hands tied behind and its integrity already compromised. This was the very reason ACAUT had previously rejected the constitution of the SIT, it added.
In this regard, the committee comprising of over 20 NGOs, have requested the government not to mislead the public.
Meanwhile, CCoFA has appealed the public to extend solidarity and prayer support.
The CCoFA opined that “a CBI investigation should also culminate into complete overhauling or cleansing of the most corrupted F&CS department, which automatically will benefit lakhs of Naga families living from hand to mouth”.
It further warned that the government would be held responsible for any untoward incident during the bandh.
In addition, CCoFA also informed that, apart from NFC gate, Dillai and Chumoukedima check gate, bandh along the entire stretch of Highway-29 would be manned by youth volunteers of Zubza, Peducha and Medziphema in their respective jurisdictions.
In this regard, CCoFA said law enforcing agencies need not worry as the agitation would be peaceful and non-violent in tune with Gandhian philosophy.
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