Imphal, December 22: Even as a high drama was witnessed at the Manipur State Assembly yesterday over the 'missing' relief fund amounting to Rs 15,27,950 in Churachandpur district, a source from the DC Office, Churachandpur today maintained that most of the money sanctioned have now been distributed to the beneficiaries.

The DC/CCpur A Ibocha Singh also told The Sangai Express that they are sticking to the 'official position' that no money was snatched by any under ground outfit.

When asked whether 'most of the money' had indeed been distributed, he said that he was being told so.

Reliable sources have indeed confirmed that there was distribution of the relief money at the quarters of an official located at Headquarters Veng here since sometime.

That was done even without any notification through the press or any other medium to the would-be beneficiaries that the money would be distributed, at any time till date.

More importantly, the amount given to the affected villagers is only a fraction of what was sanctioned by the Government, leaving everyone grumbling.

With the beneficiaries becoming increasingly aware of the way in which they are being cheated, the controversy is not likely to die down soon.

Seven families from Loibual village within Thanlon Sub division for whom a sum of Rs.1000 each (Rs 7000 in total) were awarded a total of Rs.3050 on December 20, 2004.The chief of the village, Khaigin Guite said that he learned about the ongoing distribution through one VLW employee and when he went there, he was given only Rs 2850 for all the seven villagers and that after some hard bargaining, he managed to extract an extra amount of Rs.200 from the officials there.

"They rebuked me for complaining too much," he added.

Village Authority members of Sumtuh Village who came to the DC Office here today to enquire about the fund were also told that the money meant for them have already been disbursed.

The village authority secretary one Thangchinhau said that while the Government sanctioned an amount of Rs 1000 each for 68 persons in the village, they were now told by the official concerned at the DC Office that they are entitled to only Rs.27,200 altogether.

Even that measly amount was already given to somebody else with the villagers left high and dry.

"When we argued, the official told us to meet him at his quarter tomorrow and told us in advance that at least 40 % of the due amount would be deducted in any case," he said.

According to an order issued by Dr J Suresh Babu, Commissioner (Relief), Government of Manipur on 7 August 2004, a copy of which was accessed by The Sangai Express, a detailed list of the beneficiaries and the amount sanctioned in each case was provided.

While most of the affected families were sanctioned Rs 1000 with an exception of one villager at Songtal who was sanctioned Rs.4000 for landslide in his jhum field, there are some instances in which the amount sanctioned is as low as Rs.160.It may be mentioned that an FIR was registered in the CCpur Police Station on the case on December 2.The case was filed under sections relating to cheating, criminal misappropriation, criminal conspiracy, common intention, prevention of corruption Act and unlawful activities prevention act.

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