Warrants issued against Sub-Post Master, Panchayat Secretary
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 28 2012:
Arrest warrants have been issued against a Sub-Post Master, Panchayat Secretary, Pradhan and Members of a Gram Panchayat for embezzling MGNREGS wages deposited in savings accounts of job card holders.
The arrest warrants were issued by the Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Thoubal acting on complaints filed by six individuals separately on August 27, said Human Rights Law Network Executive Director Rakesh Meihoubam.
After hearing the statements given by job card holders Abujam Shyam, Sanasam Prakash, Soibam Basanta, Khuraijam Nimai, Chirom Manaoyaima and Khumanthem Raghu, the Magistrate directed police to arrest all the functionaries of Waikhong Gram Panchayat and the sub-Post Master of Waikhong Post Office branch and produce them before the Court on September 10 .
According to the complaints, ward Members were keeping job cards as well as bank passbooks of the job card holders with them instead of giving it to the job card holders.
After drawing money from the savings account of job-card holders, the ward Members distributed the money after deducting certain percentage.
Sometime back, the job card holders demanded their job cards and passbooks from the ward Members but they were turned down.
Subsequently that filed a complaint to the Rural Development Principal Secretary.
Only then MGNREGS workers were given their job cards and passbooks.
As the Waikhong GP Pradhan, Members and the complainants could not arrive at any understanding, the Manipur Legal Services Authority deputed Advocate Meihoubam rakesh as counsel of the complainants.
Those individuals against whom non-bailable arrest warrants have been issued are Pradhan Elangbam Deben, Panchayat Secretary K Chaopok Kom, Sub-Post Master Mayanglambam Chandrika alias Ichan, ward Members Thounaojam Ibemcha, Naorem (O) Keinaton, Khuraijam Ngouba, Chirom Gopal, Sanasam Lalbabu and Yengkhom (O) Lolini.