NESO storms NEEPCO headquaters, demands punishment against CMD

Shillong, Aug 4 (UNI) The North East Students' Organisation (NESO) today stormed the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) headquarters here and demanded that the UPA government punish its Chairman cum Managing Director Subhash Chandra Sharma. The NESO demand assumed significance in the backdrop of Mr Sharma submitting his resignation letter to the Union Power Ministry on August 1, last.

Union Minister in-charge Power Sushil Kumar Shinde had accepted the resignation, official sources said.

It was also reported that the Power Ministry had directed NEEPCO Director in-charge M R Ghosh to temporarily take charge of NEEPCO.

At least, 200 students of all tribal students' unions and federations stormed the NEEPCO headquarters, shouting slogans demanding the punishment of the ''tainted'' former PSU boss and 100 per cent job reservation for North Easterners in the Corporation.

'' We heard that Mr Sharma resigned, but we want the Government of India to punish him as per the law, '' NESO Chairman Samujjal Bhattacharya told reporters.

In the wake of Mr Sharma resignation, the NESO also demanded that a 'person of North East origin' head the NEEPCO.

'' North East is not a grazing ground for corrupt officials. We want clean officials from the region to head the Corporation as well as in the Corporation's Board of Directors, '' the NESO Chairman asserted.

The NESO also demanded from the UPA to fill up all the vacant posts, especially Group C and D post, by the unemployed youths of the region.

Dr Bhattacharya, who along with other student leaders of the All Asom Students' Union and Khasi Students' Union also met NEEPCO Director (Personnel) I P Barua, said the latter had assured that he would take up their issues with the Centre.

Meanwhile, the NESO cautioned the UPA government to fulfill their demands at the earliest or ''face the consequences''.

Mr Sharma had been indicted by the CBI for misappropriation of crores of rupees as CMD of NEEPCO and forging experience certificates from Bharat Bhari Udyog Nigam Limited and CKS Engineers to get his appointment as General Manager of National Hydel Power Corporation.

The CBI was still probing all allegations.

UNI