Graft charges enter 'disabled row'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 18 2012: Accepting that a legal notice sent to its president S Hingba of River Valley (Makhrelui) under Senapati district has been received, Senapati Disable people's Association general secretary Dapuni CH asserted that relevant legal proceedings would be initiated to pull up All Tribal Disability Union Manipur president Momo Tantanga.

briefing media persons at Manipur Press Club today, Dapuni said legal representatives of Momo Tantanga had served the notice to S Hingba on november 30, on the ground that the latter's comment in a daily newspaper amounts to defaming Momo.

Contrary to the legal notice, Dapuni affirmed that the Senapati Association would initiate legal proceedings against Momo Tantanga, a resident of nagaram Block D, Imphal East, to recover over Rs 3 lakhs which Momo allegedly collected from some physically challenged persons with the assurance to get them enrolled as primary teachers under the Autonomous District Councils.

Producing hand-written documents to newspersons to prove as evidences of money transaction between the said primary teacher candidates and Momo Tantanga as well as the latter's accomplices, Dapuni alleged Momo collected the said amount in his capacity as the State level Union president to secure them primary teachers' post when recruitment exercise was initiated in 2009 .

The amount ranged from Rs 40,000 to Rs 80,000 and the candidates are affiliated to or are members of physically challenged organisations of Chandel, Senapati, Ukhrul and Churachandpur districts, said the Senapati Association's general secretary.

Terming the legal notice served to S Hingba as unfortunate, Dapuni served an ultimatum to Momo Tantanga for either returning the graft money to the individual concerned or face relevant court proceedings.

Justifying the demand for returning the money, Dapuni informed that the said primary teacher aspirants were not considered for the said post and thus they deserved to get back their money.

He also dismissed Momo Tantanga branding presidents of Association for Persons with Disabilities Ukhrul (Chungmi Ragui) and the Senapati Association chief (S Hingba) as self-styled presidents and asserted that both have the consent and mandate of members of the respective organisations.

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