Various civil society organizations have condemned the arrest of ACAUT members and demanded the uncoditional release of the arrested persons.
NTC: Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has expressed shock and vehemently condemned the state government in arresting the anti-corruption activists (ACAUT) for busting the illegal operation in the Food Storage Depots.
In a press note NTC media cell pointed out that soon after the counter FIR was lodged by the proprietors of the godown, a case was registered, and subsequently arrests were made without conducting proper inquiry into the FIR.
“This lightning speed action of the state to arrest and constrain the activists is shocking since in numerous cases where FIRs are being lodged by the concern citizens on many corruption and criminal cases are kept in cold storage without any visible action from the law enforcing agencies,” NTC stated.
For no concrete reason, NTC alleged that a fake counter FIR was lodged by the complainant(s). “It was very unbecoming for the state to act upon such an FIR without proper inquiry”, it added.
NTC said this was a “clear case of government trying to protect the illegal operators to save those people in authority and holding public offices from possible exposure”.
Making it known that the public had absolute right to know how Public Distribution System works and how the stockiest had been operating to distribute PDS items to the public through distribution points, NTC said the action of ACAUT was well justifiable without any doubt since they had not ulterior motive but to make the public know the truth behind the nefarious operations in the store houses.
In this regard, ACAUT urged upon the state government to take immediate measures and unconditionally release the activists.
DUCCF: Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) has appealed to the responsible authority (administration) to release the arrested ACAUT members — Joel Kath, Simon Kelio and Hukiye Yepthomi — unconditionally.
In a press release, DUCCF general secretary, L Temjen Imsong, said the federation held at an emergency meeting on December 12, 2016 over PDS issue, which was detected at Kevijau colony and Lhomithi village by the ACAUT and the joint action committee comprising of 13 villages and colonies.
Meanwhile, DUCCF has requested ACAUT, DNSU, Naga Council Dimapur, YAN, CNN, Chumukedima Chambers of Commerce, Dimapur Chamber of Commerce, BAN, CNTC, NTC, DDCF, East Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Naga Women Hoho Dimapur and all frontal organisations and NGOs to attend the meeting scheduled to be held on December 13, 2pm at Lengrijan Council Hall, Dimapur.
JAC of 13 colonies submit representation to DC
Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising of 13 villages/colonies have condemned the “unethical” action of police in arresting ACAUT members based on “flimsy” counter FIR lodged by one of the owner of the godwon, instead of arresting the accused alleged to be involved in the PDS rice scam.
In this regard, JAC Monday submitted a representation to DC Dimapur urging him to act upon the FIR lodged by the ACAUT and book the accused (owners of the godwons) under relevant section of IPC and CrPC.
The representation signed by 18 representatives of JAC also urged DC to ensure that no public/public leader should be unduly harassed by initiating corrective measures for the safety of the general public and its leaders.
The signatories also warned that no FCI godwon located in their jurisdiction would be allowed to function unless the case was brought to a logical conclusion.
If necessitated, JAC said that it would resort for further course of action and for any consequences it would not be responsible.
JAC has also lodged FIR at Sub-Urban Police Station demanding the arrest of the two accused (owner of the godwons) and accomplices to prevent further illegal activities and unwarranted situation under its jurisdiction.
In the FIR, JAC charged the owners of the godwons for indulging in illegal activities and siphoning of PDS rice and selling in open market and mills at exorbitant rate. It also accused the two of misleading the department of F&CS and public, by filing FIR against ACAUT member with false allegation.
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