EMN
Dimapur, February 6
The district administration of Mokokchung district has on Saturday, February 7, issued clarifications over events surrounding the recent scam in the Public Distribution Scheme of Mokokchung.
With regard to the alleged sale of PDS rice in open market and the raids conducted by the Mokokchung police personnel on January 31, the office of the deputy commissioner has issued certain clarification that the sealed warehouses are private ‘godowns’ and not Fair Price Shop holdings as appeared in the media.Also an enquiry committee has been already formed with the additional deputy commissioner of Mokokchung as chairman. The administration said it includes civil society members in the committee. The committee is thoroughly investigating into the issue, a report of the DIPR stated. Meanwhile, stakeholders are requested not to spread misinformation as it will hamper the ongoing investigation process, it stated.
Yesterday, organizations from Mokokchung had demanded investigations and prosecution of those involved the latest Public Distribution Scam in Mokokchung town. A youth organization, the Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem had expressed alarm at the recent discovery of alleged pilfering and black-marketing of ‘PDS rice’ by the Fair Price Shop of Mokokchung town. The youth organization had issued a press release on Friday, demanding investigation and bringing before the law those involved.
“The MTLT has seriously noted the Mokokchung police and district administration for raiding one FPS at Arkong ward and another godown at Tongdentsuyong ward, where suspected pilfered rice were found is huge quantity,” the organization had stated.
The police and administration, in the presence of the civil society and public, are said to have sealed two godowns namely one Fair Price Shop owned by one Moachiba at Arkong ward and the other godown by one Supong, a Store Keeper under the F&SC department, at Tongdentsuyong ward, according to the press release.
The MTLT also condemned a ‘Shree Bajrang Bahadur general shop’ at Arkong Ward, who the group stated was the main supplier of ‘empty sacks of high quality rice (Super Fine brand, Swastic brand, etc.) to the suspected rice black-marketers,’ the organization stated in its press release.
The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee had also denounced the alleged corruption. The recent arrest of the owner of Arkong Ward Fair Price Shop in Mokokchung as appeared in the daily Ao Milen on February 3 for selling PDS items in the open market, “has brought to light the level of corruption which has riddled the department of Food and Civil Supplies, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee had said in its Friday statement. The Congress had also issued a press release denouncing the alleged corruption.
