SHILLONG, Jan 11: Eight to ten members of the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) on Wednesday “barged” into the office of Salgira R Marak, Director of Printing and Stationery, and asked him not to attend office till the departmental inquiry into alleged misappropriation of funds, amounting to Rs 2 crore, from 2010-2020 is completed.
They warned that if he fails to do so, the FKJGP will be compelled to take “stern action”. Marak said he will cooperate with the organisation but he cannot just leave the office immediately as demanded without the knowledge of his seniors.
FKJGP assistant general secretary Reginald Thabah said, “Since the government has neither suspended nor transferred Marak, we asked him to cooperate with us and leave the office immediately so that the departmental inquiry is fair and no evidence is tampered with.”
“The Director said he will have to inform his seniors. After that, we will see he leaves the office immediately,” Thabah added.
The FKJGP had earlier written to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on the allegations of misappropriation of funds and demanded action against Marak within ten days to ensure a free and fair probe.
No sooner had the FKJGP members left than the police arrived at the scene.
A visibly-shaken Marak later said, “This is a personal attack on me. I have the right to defend myself and I will defend myself in the inquiry committee.”
The FKJGP leader said there could be some lapses but not corruption.
“…there might be some lapses. While working in an office, sometimes you have to ignore the rules in the sense that you cannot wait for the purchase and order in emergency. They are saying I have favoured somebody,” Marak added.
On the FKJGP’s demand, he said, “I will cooperate but I cannot just leave. I will have to inform my authority and if my authority asks me to leave, I will leave. I have informed.”
The employees of the office staged a protest and condemned the FKJGP for its action.
“We don’t have anything against them but the way they barged into our office and the Director’s room when he was talking to some officials is totally unacceptable. We condemn their action,” an employee said requesting anonymity.
Some other employees said the action of the FKJGP members had created a sense of tension, panic and insecurity in the office. They said the organisation could have sought an appointment to meet Marak, which would not have been denied, and held a conversation with him in a decent and appropriate manner.
