Checking corruption: a flop show in Manipur
- Imphal Times Editorial :: December 20 2017 -

Rumours are spreading around about fillers of those in power at the state government searching for candidates who are on strike demanding declaration of the result of the re-recruitment test for Manipur Police Constable (Male) – 2013 batch assuring them selection on payment of Rs. 8 to 10 lakhs for the post of Police Constable and Rs. 4 to 5 lakhs for the post of followers.

Many candidates had come across those filler coming directly to them and some already started paying the demanded money.

The unfortunate part is that those fillers never mention on whom to pay the amount collected. Those who are not ready to pay the demanded money narrated the way these fillers came to them.

When asked to file compliant against the practice, it finds hard for them to show direct evidences nor they could file complaints against the authority as these people coming to them did not disclosed the identity of the authority concern asking for the amount.

An enquiry committee constituted by an order of the Manipur High Court has been investigating over the matter and government is helpless to declare or intervene in the matter until the court gives directives after the submission of the inquiry conducting.

It is likely that the committee of enquiry will submit the findings of what went wrong in the selection process by January next year.

And one can expect the declaration of the result after this as the Manipur High Court will surely give a verdict regarding this.

Some of the candidates of this batch, who does not want to disclose their identity, had already stated that they had already paid some huge amount of money to the concern authority to make sure their selection.

Some had openly stated that they are facing tough time as they can’t afford the interest as they borrowed or mortgage their properties for the purpose.

This was also stated by former Retired SP of Nagaland Police P. Sonamani during a discussion hour at a local TV channel.

When the present government under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh came to power, people expected some hopes as he himself had shown immense intention to the problem of corruption.

On March 24, 2017, When the Chief Minister open Anti Corruption cell, there were some hopes thinking that corruption will be somehow checked.

The first 2/3 months sees hopes but after 8 months one wander the purpose of setting up this cell to check corruption.

The media in Manipur having faith in the new government under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had pointed several mistakes and massive corruption being underway with hopes that the government will act and punish those responsible for the misappropriation of public money.

Under the heading “Irregularities in transmission of raw water from Maphou Dam to Chingkheiching likely to cause artificial flood and disaster at many villages” this newspaper had published on how the authority implementing the project had misappropriated the public money (as anything is taken up with the taxes collected from the public).

So far no action has been initiated to any of the individuals involved.

The government had also instituted to investigate on why the electronic traffic signal and the CCTV camera installed at various places of Imphal have failed. Mr. Chief Minister had stated that he had received the all the report.

But one wanders why he is not initiating any action against those involved in the misappropriation of fund.

With the way things are going on it seems like the menace of corruption will continue to hunt the people of the state.