Manipur CM assures probe into police involvement in urea scam

Imphal, Oct 11 (UNI) Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today announced that the government would initiate a departmental probe into the alleged involvement of police in urea scam.

The police and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel were allegedly involved in the smuggling of urea from Manipur to Myanmar.

The All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) had demanded action against Director General of Police, Manipur, Y Joykumar Singh for allegedly detaining the editors and members of the union and forcing them to reveal the names of the sources who informed about the illegal activity of police personnel.

The Chief Minister said the news sources could not be revealed, adding the DGP might have tried to know the truth about the matter as the local newspapers gave a detailed report mentioning the involvement of police.

Meanwhile, the AMWJU and the editors condemned the detention of journalists, demanding that the DGP should tender unconditional apology by October 14.

The AMWJU also noted that it would have been appreciated if the DGP had tried to know the details of the sources legally.

Some newspapers of Manipur had published a news item mentioning the involvement of police personnel towards illegal smuggling of urea to Myanmar.

The AMWJU alleged that the DGP yesterday forced the editors to call the concerned reporters in a meeting, convened by him.

After interrogating the reporters, the DGP called police and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel and found that the reports were correct, it informed.

The AMWJU also noted that all would have appreciated the DGP if he had conducted an enquiry into the conduct of his personnel and took action accordingly rather than forcing the journalists to give details of the story.

It opined that democracy and the freedom of press could not be protected if Mr Joykumar continued in office. The scribes' body would urge the Chief Minister, also holding the Home portfolio, for transferring the DGP.

The AMWJU had decided to boycott all news items related to the government if the Chief Minister failed to take action by October 14 and stated that the Press Council of India , IFWJ, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting would also be apprised of the situation.

UNI NS SB RN1948