Students bodies, JAC set deadline for Titus Kamei`s release

[karira]

As reported in The Imphal Free Press and on kanglaonline.com on 16 August 2008:
Students bodies, JAC set deadline for Titus Kamei`s release :: KanglaOnline ~ Your Gateway

Students bodies, JAC set deadline for Titus Kamei`s release

IMPHAL, Aug 16: Terming Titus Kamei as RTI activist and stating that he was arrested and detained under NSA because he tried to find out the truth behind the controversial implementation of Rashtriya Sram Vikas Yojana, RSVY in Tamenglong district, through RTI, the Zeliangrong Students` Union, Nungba area and JAC on RSVY at Tamenglong district with extended support from MAFYF have set a deadline for his release him within two weeks.

In a press conference held today at the Manipur Press Club, the three bodies also demanded handing over of the case to the CBI within two weeks after which it threatened to launch several forms of agitations if their demands were not met by the authorities.

The RSVY scheme was implemented in Tamenglong district in Manipur after it was included in the list of most backwards districts of the country during the year 2003-04 to 2005-06. A total of Rs. 45 crores had been released within the three year span of its implementation, when T Panmei was the deputy commissioner of the district.

The JAC on RSVY scheme at Tamenglong district has been alleging that T Panmei while he still headed the DRDA,Tamenglong exhausted an amount of Rs. 23.28 crores with an alleged violation of the DRDA guidelines when the public of the Tamenglong district were unaware of the scheme.

The funds were meant for construction of agriculture roads, construction of minor bridges etc. at various places of the district.

As till date no such agriculture roads and bridges are available for use of the public in the district, the JAC and ZSU, Nungba area has been charging that T Panmei exhausted the whole fund of Rs. 45 crores.

Speaking at the press conference, Khangjang Gamei, vice president, ZSU, Nungba reiterated his observation that on the absence of any evidence that any such works under the scheme had been taken up, Titus Kamei, a social worker, started investigations into the matter by seeking information through the RTI Act.

After he sought detailed information on the implementation of the scheme in the district and following his submission to the chief secretary requesting him for a spot verification into the implementation of the works, the state vigilance department started investigations into the implementation of the works under the scheme.

While the SP, vigilance is making enquiries, Titus Kamei hailing from Nungba bazar was arrested by the police commandos on the charge of extorting a sum of Rs. 3 lakhs from T Panmei which had been recovered from his car at Deulahland in Imphal in June 2008, Khangjang said.

The circumstances that led to the arrest of Titus Kamei was apparently related with a conspiracy and this is an indication of victimizing him, he said while announcing the stand of the students body and JAC to launch various forms of agitations if the demand for handing over of the case to CBI and release of Titus was not fulfilled within two weeks time.