Imphal, February 05: Health Minister Ph Parijat has asserted that transfer of the main accused in the fraudulent GPF withdrawal case of the Moreh Community health Centre (CHC) rather than service termination was to facilitate the Government recuperate the lost amount of Rs 19 lakh from the accused entitlements.

In connection with the fraudulent withdrawal by doctoring documents police registered a case against the then DDO Dr Lungdim Mangthang, the Minister said while disclosing that the accused had been evading arrest.

Dr Lungdim has been charged of withdrawing the GPF of nine employees of the PHC on the sly.

Parijat was responding to a joint motion raised by MPP MLAs Dr Ng Bijoy and Dr I Ibohalbi in today's Assembly session wherein the duo contended that inspite of authorities like the Finance Department and police fully aware of who the real accused is, the victim employees are made to endure more stress due to deductions from their monthly entitlements apparently to make up for the financial loss to the State exchequer.

The MPP legislators were critical of the fact that rather than letting the DDO face the music Dr Lungdim is being let off with a transfer while the innocent employees continue to endure more suffering.

Voicing strong resentment against the alleged salary deductions of the nine employees, Dr Bijoy demanded an explanation from the Government's side on the progress, if any, regarding the institution of the House Committee and subsequent investigation conducted by the Vigilance Department into the scam.

On the other hand, a visibly upset Dr Ibohalbi said that the action of the Government in deducting the salaries of the victims amount to adding salt to injuries.

On his part the Health Minister informed the House that the Vigilance during its investigation had narrowed down on Dr Lungdim for forging the signature of the then Deputy Secretary (Health) and withdrawing the said amount through nine separate bills in 2004-05 .

Investigation by the House Committee is on, he maintained.

Ph Parijat citing technical complication in case of suspension or service termination of Dr Lungdim disclosed that Rs 4 lakh had been recovered so far from the accused entitlements whose present posting is at Singnat of Churachandpur district.

Admitting that Dr Lungdim's guilt could be established without doubt, the Minister confided that Government would soon recover Rs 11 lakh from the then DDO's liabilities.

Moreover, on the directive of the House Committee to the Finance Dept regular salary of the nine employees had been restored, he added.

The Minister also diluted his own assertion that Dr Lungdim could be apprehended any moment by conceding that the accused had gone into hiding and could not be traced at the current juncture.

Earlier, in the morning session, O Joy of the MPP contended that an individual actually enrolled as an assistant teacher on adhoc basis is today occupying the post of Deputy Inspector (DI), Chandel.

Providing more details on the matter, the veteran MPP leader identifying the individual as LR Koireng said in 1988 he (Koireng) was appointed as assistant teacher under the District Council with his first posting at Sangaithel LP School.

Expressing skepticism with regard to reliability of existing administration system like the Manipur Govt Employees' List and computerisation of pensioners' data, the Langthabal AC MLA insisted that Koireng was also a Committee member that carried out verification of Education Dept employees posted in Chandel district.

Contending that record of service regularisation of Koireng was sketchy apart from the fact that a day after transfer to Ukhrul in 1999 as Assistant Inspector (AI) Koireng was promoted to DI, Joy lashed out that Koireng's inclusion as one of the members in the verification Committee is very contentious and undermines the very purpose of framing MGEL.

Insisting that he has documentary proof of Koireng's name enlisted in the MGEL, Joy conveyed willingness to furnish all relevant papers to the Speaker.

In his reply, the Chief Minister O Ibobi observed that re-verification of Koireng's service records is required and assured to place details in the next session of the Assembly if Joy could share information.

Ibobi further informed the House of 5000 pensioners failing to report for the necessary photography exercise to computerise details of 25,000 pensioners thereby saving excess expenditure of Rs 8 crore from the State's Exchequer.

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