Education minister must quit:APPDSU

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, March 29: Bringing out the skeleton from the closet in regards to over 12 crore contract works of Government College Doimukh involving state Education Minister Tapang Taloh, the All Papum Pare District Students’ Union (APPDSU) has served an ultimatum to the state government demanding immediate dropping of the minister and arrest of all involved.

Talking to reporters here Saturday, APPDSU president Telli Duli Camdir lamented that despite available evidences with the police including voice recording of District Vigilance Monitoring Committee member, Dubi Ete (Lollen), who did the deal with the contractors, police have not acted yet. Ete had allegedly sought a commission of ten per cent from the contractor on behalf of the minister for the 12.5 crore worth contract. Ironically the work was awarded to the contractor without inviting NIT and the work order was likely to be issued.

“The lady has already accepted the fact that she was working on behalf of the minister and her voice was recorded by the contractor. We have submitted a copy of the CD to the police,” Camdir disclosed.

Wondering what prompted the police not to arrest three other accused including the OSD of the minister Dr. Ranjan, the union demanded immediate resigtion of the minister on moral ground and to hand over the case to Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state police for free and fair investigation.

It also threatened to launch democratic movement in the form of a protest rally from I G Park to Raj Bhawan on April 4 next. Police on March 10 last arrested Bimpi Riddi, Tori Gadi, Tame Aking and Dubi Ete (Lollen) from the spot on charge of extortion, while the masterminds Marpi Basar and Tomar Basar are evading arrest. On March 17 last, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CGM) Yupia, had rejected the bail petition of all the accused persons. The union further alleged that in spite of lodging FIR and arrest made to others, police have failed to arrest Marpi Basar and Tomar Basar till now. Camdir disclosed that on March 18, Ta Pekhi Tara, the contractor, lodged a FIR for the second time but surprisingly the police did not take action nor do they register the case.

“It is a testimony to the fact that the police are not serious on the case or perhaps they might be getting pressure from the minister,” he alleged.

“A copy of the CD which we handed over to the police was surprisingly with the minister also,” he added.