Drivers suspect Union president of fund misuse
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 09 2011:
Suspecting misuse of collective fund by the president of All Manipur Petroleum Tankers Drivers' Union Drivers affiliated to the union today demanded that president Bhupenchandra Ghosh furnish a detailed account of the total amount of fund collected, expended and current fund position.
Failure to provide the details within seven days will constrain the Union members to launch intense movement against the president, cautioned tanker driver Namram Chaoba, on behalf of his colleagues, while speaking to newspersons at Manipur Press Club today.
chaoba said for every trip made by a fuel transporter Rs 50 is voluntarily contributed to the union as fund and such a contribution is being made for many years.
Stating that there 600 petroleum tankers registered to the union out of which about a hundred tankers are no more in service, he also disclosed that in case of demise of a member the contribution/collection from each member ranges from Rs 100 to Rs 200 .
Contending that Bhupenchandra declined to respond positively on being queried on how and where the donated amount is being used, Chaoba also revealed that the Union president recently received Rs 50,000 from the Chief Minister O Ibobi singh.
The said amount was provided by the Chief Minister to Bhupenchandra to bear treatment cost of N Bishochandra of Moirang Tronglaobi, who suffered grievous injury in an accident on August 2 at Kanglatongbi area.
The 25-year old Bishochandra met with an accident while trying to evade suspected blockade supporters on the fateful day.
further revealing that the Union president ultimately handed over Rs 20,000 to an uncle of Bishochandra after several days of receiving the amount, Chaoba opined that Bhupenchandra might have handed over the deducted amount due to apprehension that Union members might question his position as the Union leader.
He, nevertheless, asserted that strong movement would be initiated against the Union president is case a convincing clarification could not be issued within a week.