Dimapur, July 16 : The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has emerged with a statement demanding from the chief minister of Nagaland setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is an “independent authority” and one that wouldn’t be manipulated from ‘outside.’
The government failing to meet the demand will invite recourse from the NSF and the government ‘shall be held solely responsible for any further action,’ the NSF stated.
The organization issued a press release addressed to the chief minister, over concerns about the recent fuel-adulteration racket, and sought a “factual report.”
“The SIT set-up by the government should be given independent authority without any outside interference in the course of its investigation so as to unearth the racket and the individuals and agencies involved without manipulation of the fact findings,” the representation stated as it first petition.
“The government should ensure that, the arrested persons in connection to the case should not be given bail under any circumstances,” the second read.
“The SIT should be given a stipulated time frame to summit its report. After submission of the report by the SIT, stringent action should be initiated against the defaulters.”
The organization also demanded that the licence and permit of the agencies found guilty be cancelled.
“The federation strongly impress upon the government to conduct and examine an in-depth investigation into the racket. Failing to comply with the demands of the federation, the government shall be held solely responsible for any further action taken by the NSF.”
NPF appeals for ‘cooperation’
A separate statement from the Naga People’s Front on Saturday has ‘sought’ cooperation. A statement from the party’s “press” bureau claimed that the ACAUT’s rejection of the SIT came as a ‘huge surprise to the public.’ The NPF also asserted that the rejection followed with the rider that the commissioner of Dimapur police head the SIT “clearly indicates that ACAUT is concerned for Dimapur district alone.”
“To a layman’s understanding,” the party stated, “Since adulteration appears to have affected the whole state, the government’s decision to set up the SIT headed by an IG level officer to upgrade the level and broaden the scope of investigations, appear to be the right move since Dimapur police along with all the SPs of the districts would continue to extend full support to the team to get to the bottom of the whole matter.”
The NPC stated that the ACAUT should not ‘hamper’ the government to go ahead with the investigations as “per laid down rules and regulations.”
The NPF also went further to claim that the chief minister had not ‘been silent on the adulteration issue’ but rather “called for a meeting with the DGP and the chief secretary to update himself and suggest ways to look into the issue urgently. He had also held a series of discussions with the Home minister, and top officials concerned on the issue. Even before leaving for Delhi on Friday, he had a lengthy discussion with the commissioner of police, Dimapur, and suggested various measures to ensure that the guilty are brought to book and the practice stopped once and for all.”
On a more level statement, the NPF admitted that “it is also a fact that these discrepancies, malpractices and irregularities have been continuing for quite some time and is not the creation of the present Government alone.”
Therefore, instead of ‘going against the government of the day,’ it would only be “proper and appropriate if it cooperates and jointly work to correct the undesirable practices in the system.”
Nagaland police
The Nagaland police have come out with a statement too, even asking the public “not to be misled or swayed by the misconceived and baseless declaration of any individual or organization / NGOs…”
Superintendent of Police (crime) Myingthungo Tungoe, of the police headquarters issued a press release on Saturday.
The PHQ stated in its “clarification” (Given verbatim)
• The issue of the ‘Fuel adulteration’ cases registered by the Dimapur Police at the Diphupar and West Police Station is likely to have state wide – all Nagaland ramifications which in that case would be beyond the jurisdiction of the Dimapur Police. Hence, to avoid possible jurisdictional limitations and to ensure a thorough broad based investigation throughout Nagaland, this investigation has been upgraded to the level of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by the Inspector General of Police (Range), who has jurisdictions over the entire state of Nagaland.
• To allege that the Chief Minister of the state has remained silent and, the SIT is merely an ‘eye-wash’ to give a ‘clean-chit’ to the Higher-ups is not only erroneous but baseless and pre-judgmental. The Chief Minister has held wide consultation with the Cabinet and reviewed the matter and has directed the investigative agency to take all necessary action in the matter, hence the upgradation of the investigation process to that of an SIT headed by the IGP(R) having jurisdiction over the entire state.
• In keeping with the spirit in which the SIT has been conceived, the two I.O’s (Investigating Officers) who were investigating the case so far has been retained and form the core components of the SIT. With the exception of the supervisory officer, all the other members of the SIT at present are drawn exclusively from Dimapur Police comprising of one Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), one Addl. DCP and, three Asst. Commissioner of Police. Therefore the anxiety expressed that the case is being taken away from Dimapur police is hasty and unwarranted.
“The PHQ, therefore earnestly appeal to the general public not to be misled or swayed by the misconceived and baseless declaration of any individual or organization / NGOs on this issue, in the interest of public peace, law and order and, social harmony of the state.”
