Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 02 2010:
In the aftermath of the tragic fire incident in the family-line quarters of the 2nd MR, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Y Erabot, along with officials of his department, today conducted raids on the premises of 2nd MR quarters to search for illegal hoarding of petrol and diesel.
After seizing fuel which was found concealed at some quarters of the state security personnel, the Minister charged police and state security personnel including officers of indulging in the black market of petrol and diesel in the state taking advantage of the uncertainty on NH 39 and NH 53 .
This afternoon, the Minister himself along with officials of the CA&FP department and his personnel security escorts conducted the raid to the quarters of the personnel of MR in the 2nd MR quarters where the fire tragedy occurred.
In the raid, a number of barrels containing petrol and diesel were seized.
Many filled barrels were also found hidden in the drainage and bushes near the quarters.
Most of the items were discovered from the quarters of the officials of state security and police officers located inside the complex.
"It is an unfortunate thing that police and security personnel are indulges in black marketing of petrol and diesel.
It is the complete failure of the state home department.
I will put up the matter to the level of Union home minister, Erabot talking to reporters during the raid said.
All the seized containers and item will be kept into his custody the minister said adding that to handover the seized item to the police will be like handing over key to the thief.
During the minister's drive, petrol in containers of 200 litre capacity and other 18 containers of different capacities were recovered from the quarter no.13 allotted to a rifleman of the 2nd MR.Petrol and diesel were also seized from the quarter no.14, 22 and from some other houses including that of an ASI at Meitei Leikai.
Two 200 litre capacity containers of petrol and diesel were also seized from quarter no.9(C) allotted to havildar Ishaq Ali.
From the quarter no.35, the minister and his team also detected two barrels of fuel.
Some barrels and containers filled with petrol and diesel were also found concealing into the bushes nearby the family-line quarters.