SHILLONG, Aug 28: The United Democratic Party (UDP), the second largest constituent of the National People’s Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, has finally broken its silence on the multi-crore vehicle scam in the Police department, questioning how people of the state will bestow their trust on the police system if law enforcing agencies are allegedly involved in misdoings.
“The news that has appeared in the papers in the last two day is something that will demoralise the people,” UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said on Sunday.
An inquiry report into the alleged irregularities and mismanagement in the procurement of vehicles and use of fuel by the Police Headquarters (PHQ) revealed unofficial procurement and non registration of vehicles, discrepancies in documents, questionable allotment and purchase of cheaper models against sanction of expensive variants.
Incidentally, the Home department is managed by Lahkmen Rymbui, a UDP legislator. So far, the party’s Cabinet ministers and MLAs have remained mum on the expose by the inquiry team.
“I feel that whatever is happening now proves that police administration has collapsed. I do not know how it is functioning but it is totally messed up. This department is very important,” Mawthoh said.
He observed that in the last few years the Police department has failed miserably in tackling law-and-order problems that have emanated from time to time in the state.
When pointed out that the Home portfolio is headed by none other than a UDP legislator, he said, “Whether Home Minister is from the UDP or not we have to speak out on what is happening in the state. We can clearly see that things are not right.”
“We are a big party and if there is something wrong we need to point out; we cannot just keep quiet. We live in this coalition era but we also need to speak out from time to time agai8nst anything wrong,” he added.
The inquiry report into the alleged irregularities and mismanagement in the procurement of vehicles and use of fuel by the Police Headquarters (PHQ) which was prepared, based on perusal of records and documents received from the Police HQ, states that a total of 29 official vehicles were in the personal custody of AIG (A) Gabriel K Iangrai, who has been accused of stepping beyond his authority and misusing his power leading to the wrongdoings.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has made it clear that the inquiry report does not point to any scam.
