Imphal, January 10 2009: Notwithstanding the tough posture of the Naga People's Organisation (NPO) the Deputy Commissioner of Senapati district, Nidhi Kesarwani reasserted that there is no question of laxity on the part of the district administration in the implementation of welfare programmes.

Moreover, the district administrator disputed a report carried in this daily with regard to suspected NPO activists targeting and damaging loaded trucks in Senapati area yesterday.

With reference to the report of some trucks stoned and forced to return back to the state capital, she maintained that only 70-80 trucks comprising of oil tankers and LPG Bullet tankers came under the attack as these vehicles could were not covered by the security escort party having reported late for the departure.

As these vehicles could not comply with the directive to move together under the security cover 'some miscreants' were eventually able to carry out their agenda of disrupting movement of the essential carriers, Kesharwani insisted while adding that in all 247 loaded trucks including fuel and cooking gas carriers were escorted from Mao till the State capital yesterday.

Reacting to the NPO allegation of the district administration being inefficient and the charge of the DC involved in misappropriation of public money, she said the district administration is performing well and that all the centrally sponsored schemes are being implemented with religious adherence to prescribed norms.

Describing the NPO allegations as baseless, the DC in a statement issued today iterated that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure proper implementation of all development schemes for benefit of the people.

Stating that adequate measures have been taken by the Government to provide full security cover to vehicles plying on National Highway 39 so as to ensure smooth and safe passage in between Mao and Imphal, the DC cautioned 'an act by any person or organisation harming public property along the highway and disrupting law and order of the district will be viewed very seriously and stern action will be taken against by the administration against such unlawful elements'.

In pursuit of its demand for removal of the Deputy Commissioner on the alleged charge of abuse of official power the NPO had been enforcing economic blockade along the Imphal-Dimapur route in Senapati district section of the important highway.

Serious allegation is also being levelled against the lady officer of duty negligence blaming her for lack of development activities in the hill district.

Meanwhile, police sources said security measures specifically along the NH-39 stretch have been reviewed and appropriate steps taken up to ensure incidents such as yesterday's stoning of vehicles at Senapati district areas do not recur in the future.

Apart from the police, the Army along with other Central para-military forces stationed along this route in Manipur sector have been put on high alert and patrolling intensified to foil subversive attempts by miscreants.

Moreover, it is also informed that to thwart unwanted activities and attempts against vehicles by activists of armed groups as well as social organisations along NH-39 a joint security control room has been put in place at senapati district headquarters.

Trucks escorted : Twenty-three LPG carrier bullet trucks that were forced to return back empty handed from Senapati yesterday after the incident of pelting stones at the trucks by suspected supporters of the bandh being called by NPO along National Highway 39, have been escorted safely from Imphal to Assam to lift LPG this morning.

According to sources, no oil tankers have been included among the LPG bullet trucks that were escorted from here along with tight security measures today.

On the after hand, information received from the Senapati Police said that a case has been taken up by the Mao police against the bandh sponsorers, though there has been no report of any arrest made in this regard so far.

Comment