DGP rubbishes MCDA slur
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 21 2011: Responding to allegations raised by Manipur Chemists and Druggists' Association (MCDA) against Manipur police for not responding to report/complaint made by them and transporters, Director General of Police (DGP) Y Joykumar has clarified that Manipur Police Department did not receive any complaint or report, either in writing or verbally, from any members of MCDA prior to the burning of six trucks near Nungkao on September 16 .

As regards the transporters, the office bearers and members of the Transporters and Drivers' Council (TDC), the apex body of truck owners and drivers of Manipur have been working closely with Manipur Police to ensure safe and smooth operation of trucks on NH-53, said the DGP in a statement issued today.

Further maintaining that it is mainly due to such close coordination between the transporters and Manipur Police Department that it has been possible to bring more than thousand loaded trucks from Jiribam on each occasion, Joykumar affirmed Manipur police have been taking appropriate action, as per suggestion and feedbacks from the TDC members.

"We have further revamped security arrangement along NH-53 detailing a number of Commandants of MR/IR Bns.

following the incident at Nungkao," he confided and expressed that it has been possible to bring more than 1000 loaded trucks safely without any untoward incident to Imphal along NH-37 after the said incident.

While the burning down of the six trucks near Nungkao some days back is a highly regrettable one and the loss suffered in the arson should be appropriately compensated, this incident should not be exploited to create panic and make unreasonable demand, the DGP stated.

Conveying to all concerned that 28 medicine laden trucks were in the convoy brought from Jiribam, the police chief also detailed that there were 26 such trucks which started on the previous day of the incident out of which two got 'burnt down at Nungkao.

"Two more started from Jiribam on September 16.All the 26 trucks other than the two burnt down ones and carrying drugs and medicine have safely reached Imphal.

In view of this, the panicky picture of the non availability of drugs and medicine in the state given by the members of MCDA cannot be a correct one particularly after arrival of 26 loaded trucks just a few days ago," he opined.

Negating assertion by the MCDA members that transportation of medicines has been stopped by the manufacturers after the Nungkao incident and questioning validity of such remark, Joykumar cited three trucks laden with drugs and medicines already parked at Jiribam awaiting the next convoy for movement into Imphal to drive home his point against the MCDA contention.

urging the MCDA members not to give an incorrect picture to the general public, the DGP suggested that MCDA seek 'our cooperation' to get appropriate compensation from the state government for their loss.

It is also to be mentioned that police has already taken up an FIR about the burning of the trucks on suo motto by Nungba Police Station under FIR No.23(9)11 of Nungba PS u/s 435/34 IPC.

Hence, the statement by them that no FIR has been taken up is also not correct.

They could have got the correct picture if they had tried to get the correct information from the Senior Police Officers, he added.

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