MPUF clarifies on earlier report of ransom demand

FROM A REPORTER

SHILLONG, April 13: D Laloo, president of the Meghalaya People United Front (MPUF) central body on Monday claimed that the allegations against him for demanding Rs 1, 20,000 from one non-tribal shopkeeper which came out in some local newspapers are false.

Laloo alleged that there were many complaints against the shopkeeper Ali Imam who hails from Muzaffarpur, Bihar and who is presently residing in Ladrymbai Dhagwah East Jaintia Hills for selling products which have exhausted their expiry dates. He added that on April 1, MPUF went to the shop of Imam not to examine the shop but to inform him that he should report to their office on April 6.

The MPUF president claimed that on April 6, Imam acknowledged that the products which were expired are from his shop. He was not even able to produce his trading license or labor license.

He also added that time was also given to Imam to produce his proper papers till April 8 but he did not show up even after the due date.  So we decided to file an FIR against him on April 9. He further added that Imam confessed in front of the officer in charge of Jowai Police Station that he did not demand any money from him, and that Imam withdrew his FIR against the organization on April 10.

It may be mentioned that on April 10, Imam filed an FIR against MPUF president Laloo and General Sectary A Syad for allegedly demanding Rs 1, 20, 00 from him.

Laloo also alleged that the FIR was not filed by Imam but by someone who wants to defame the organization. He further claimed that the shopkeeper gave a statement to the MPUF to inform them that he had no hand in trying to defame the organization by publishing the story in the newspapers, and that the only reason that  Imam filed an FIR was because he was forced to do so by some people.

The MPUF president also urged the newsmen especially the ones in Jaintia Hills to get clarification first before they publish anything on their papers.