Dimapur, March 31 (EMN): The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) on Friday rejected a letter from the Home Commissioner, Abhijit Sinha –written in response to the JCC and NTAC ultimatum served to the State government on March 8 last.
The letter from the Home Commissioner was dated March 31. He had written, among other points: “The demand for suspension of the former Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, Deputy Commissioner of Longleng and the police personnel who were handling the violent crowd both in Dimapur and Longleng on 31/1/17 for an impartial inquiry has been duly considered and examined from all aspects by the government and it is felt that the suspension of the officials and the police personnel at this stage would neither be justifiable nor proper”.
This assertion, JCC members told a press conference here, was “a reverse and contravention” of Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rule of 1965. According to this rule, an official can be placed under suspension:
(a) where a disciplinary proceeding against him is contemplated or is pending; or where, in the opinion of the authority aforesaid, he has engaged himself in activities prejudicial to the interest of the security of the State; or
(b) where a case against him in respect of any criminal offence is under investigation, inquiry or trial
The letter from the Home Commissioner also contained some other suggestions and measures, but the JCC members were of the mind that they have rejected the letter.
‘CM ignorant of rule of law’
The JCC members also expressed “utter shock and surprise” at the reported statement made by chief minister Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu in which he had advised the JCC and the NTAC ‘not to test the patience’ of the State government.
The members reminded the chief minister that it was at the request of the cabinet sub-committee members on March 11 last that the JCC granted 10 days’ time. “But instead of explaining to the people, the chief minister had exhibited his arrogance and narrow-mindedness.”
They also said that the chief minister’s admission that the “bullets retrieved” from one of the injured protestors and two slain youth “were not from any weapons used by the security forces in the State” surprising because he had made such statement even before the proposed Judicial Inquiry Commission has been formed.
“The chief minister has already given his verdict which means he is ignorant of the rule of law,” a JCC official said. He expressed apprehension that, under the given circumstances, if the JIC were to probe the incidents, it might choose to toe the line of the chief minister’s statement.
“The chief minister should be held solely responsible as to from which group or from whose gun those bullets where shot or used,” another member said.
It was also informed that there will be a joint meeting of the JCC, NTAC and all the apex tribe organisations on April 5, 12 noon at Chakhesang Hoho building, Dimapur.
