Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 20:
Amid contradictory claims transportation of rice from the FCS Godown, Sangaiprou resumed this afternoon after the FCS activity came to a standstill yesterday.
In contrast to police claim that transportation of rice ceased yesterday following threat from unidentified persons suspected to be members of an armed outfit, a top official of the FCS contended that agents were restricted from lifting rice due to Government order for security cover in transporting rice.
According to police source, lifting of rice from the godown resumed only after 2 pm today as neither the storekeepers nor the FCS Superintendent was available to supervise the transport exercise.
The fact that some storekeepers were picked up by police to authenticate information of the threat call might have led to other storekeepers and the Superintendent to go into hiding to escape police formalities, speculated the source.
Even then after confirming report of the threat calls adequate security arrangement was made to enable agents and Government nominees lift rice from the godown since late afternoon, it asserted.
On the other hand, an FCS official insisted that rice transportation had to be stopped following Government instruction necessitating security cover during transportation of the rice.
The security cover to agents and Government nominees is due to earlier instances of lifted rice not reaching its destined destination, contended the official who preferred anonymity.
Outrightly rejecting police version of storekeepers and the superintendent being untraceable in the early hours today, the official however, acknowledged FCS officials and employees receiving threat calls.