Charges framed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 17 2018: Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal East has framed charges against the then Zilla Parishad Member, Pradhan, Ward Member as well as three other individuals who were allegedly involved in harassing and threatening an Imphal East MNREGS Ombudsman who went for spot enquiry of MNREGS works under Haraorou Tangkham Gram Panchayat, some three years back.

According to a reliable source, Imphal East MNREGS Ombudsman Wahengbam Joykumar lodged a criminal case before Imphal East CJM regarding harassment and threat against him during spot enquiry of MNREGS works on July 30, 2015 .

As follow-up of the case, after repeated hearings, CJM Imphal East framed charge sheets against six accused in connection with the case.

The source mentioned that as per the power conferred on the Ombudsman under section 27 of the MNREGS Act, an Ombudsman has the right to conduct spot enquiry in case any job card holder files complaints.

On the said day (July 30, 2015), Ombudsman Wahengbam Joykumar went on a spot enquiry upon receiving two complaints from the job card holders of Haraorou Tangkham Gram Panchayat.

The two complaints (one filed by 10 job card holders and the other filed by five other job card holders) claimed that their signatures had been forged and the necessary wages/funds for two MNREGS works, namely construction of a pucca drain and construction of a ring road for Tangkham Awang Leikai, were misused.

The first 10 job card holders had also informed the Ombudsman that they were threatened to revoke their earlier complaints by some individuals, the source explained.

Based on the said complaints, Wahengbam Joykumar fixed July 30 for conducting the spot enquiry and informed the opposite party regarding the same and also requested Imphal East SP to provide necessary security.

The Ombudsman also informed the CEO/Zilla Parishad, ADM Imphal East, Panchayat Secretary, SO and other concerned officials to be present on the spot.

The source further informed that on the day of the spot enquiry, the then Zilla Parishad Member Thangjam Angoubi Devi (accused number 1), Pradhan Tongbram Hemabati Devi (accused number 2), Ward Member Yurnnam Ojit Singh (accused number 3), Ward Member Ng Bhimo Singh (accused number 5), along with 20 villagers/locals were present at the spot.

After conducting spot enquiry of the pucca drain construction, the Ombudsman went to conduct spot enquiry of the ring road construction at Tangkham Awang Leikai.

However, no security personnel could be found at the place except some people engaged by the Pradhan and the Zilla Parishad Member.

When the Ombudsman tried to conduct spot enquiry, the said individuals warned him to stop the enquiry and leave the place immediately.

Demanding the Ombudsman to reveal the identities of those who filed the complaints, one Ngaseppam Brajamohan (accused number 4), who was present at the spot, threatened to thrash those who had filed the complaint.

Owing to the developing situation, the CEO/ADM urged the Ombudsman to stop the spot enquiry and during the commotion one Nongthombam Iboyai (accused number 6) began using harsh words against the Ombudsman.

The source narrated that during the time, it began to rain and the Ombudsman had to go into his vehicle but Ngaseppam Brajamohan and Ng Bhimo warned the Ombudsman against leaving the place until he gave the list of the complainants and even pulled him down from the vehicle.

During the commotion, accused number 3, Ward Member Yurnnam Ojit even grabbed the collar of the Ombudsman and when the Ombudsman later tried to file a complaint at Sagolmang PS, the police declined to register the case, the source added.

The Ombudsman finally lodged a complaint against the six accused at CJM Imphal East and as follow-up, CJM Imphal East framed charge sheets against the six accused under section 353, 189, 323 R/W 511,506 R/W 34 under the IPC.

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