Manipur: SDRF CO suspended for alleged corrupt practices

Our Correspondent

Imphal, June 3 (EMN): Barely two weeks after suspending a Manipur Rifles commandant on alleged charges of utilising Manipur Rifles personnel for his personnel works, the commanding officer (CO) of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Manipur was also suspended on Thursday for his alleged involvement in “corrupt practices”.

Along with the CO, one inspector of SDRF, one havildar of 5th Indian Reserve Battalion and one rifleman of Manipur Police Training Centre (MPTC), Pangei were also put under suspension on similar charges. The suspended officer has been identified as Md Jakiruddin, commanding officer of SDRF Manipur.

Though the reason behind the suspension of the commanding officer was not clearly mentioned in the government order issued on June 2, Additional DGP Clay Khongsai of Manipur Police department, while addressing a hurriedly called press conference in Imphal on Thursday evening, said the report of corrupt practices in the SDRF came to light during an inquiry conducted based on a complaint.

Narrating the process of the inquiry wherein some selected personnel out of total SDRF strength were questioned, Khongsai said, “Initially we could not find anything but when we reached the fifth or sixth persons for questioning,  they started revealing their practices”. There are about 152 personnel in SDRF.

“During the inquiry, we came to know that some of the personnel, who are not so fit, untrained or who have some personal work, resorted to giving money ranging from INR 3000 to 5000 depending on their time-out period to the commandant through two persons,” the senior police said.

In the follow up questioning, two personnel — Havildar RK Momosana and Rifleman S Yainingkhomngamba of MPTC — admitted that some corrupt practice is going on and accordingly, the arrangement is made wherein, whoever who wants to have a off duty without actually attending office would give the amounts directly to the commandant, sometimes through the two persons.

Based on these finding, separate suspension orders were issued against Inspector Thangjapao Vaiphei, Havildar Momosana and Rifleman Yainingkhomngamba and disciplinary proceedings are on, he said.

Similarly a suspension order against Commandant Md Jakiruddin was also issued and disciplinary proceedings are contemplated. Further departmental inquiry will also be conducted, he said.

On May 17, the commanding officer of a Manipur Rifles battalion was put under suspension on alleged charges of utilising Manipur Rifles personnel of the battalion for his personal works.