Imphal, Aug 9 : Manipur’s minister for sports and youth affairs N. Biren Singh today said legal action would be taken if allegations of swindling money meant for development of sports infrastructure and organising games against officials of his department, were found true.
Reacting to Kangleipak Communist Party (Military Council)’s allegation that funds had been siphoned off by some officials of the department, Biren Singh said a senior official had been placed under suspension and a departmental inquiry would be ordered to ferret out the truth.
The outfit exploded a hand grenade at the private residence of sports director W. Boby at Loklaobung in Imphal West on Thursday night. No one was, however, injured.
Claiming responsibility for the attack, the outfit had accused the minister and the director of indulging in financial irregularities in the sports department.
“Legal action, including termination of services, would be initiated if there is any truth in the allegations. No guilty official would be spared,” Biren Singh told this correspondent.
He said the superintendent of the sports department, Naorem Open, had been placed under suspension following allegations of misappropriation of funds.
“Action was initiated before the KCP (MC) had made the allegations,” the minister said. The outfit alleged that Open in collusion with district sports officers had swindled Rs 31.5 lakh sanctioned by the Union sports ministry for development of sports infrastructure and organising games in the districts under Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan scheme.
The aim of the scheme is to create a network of basic sports infrastructure throughout the state and provide universal access to sport in the rural areas.
Under this scheme, to harness talent among rural youths financial assistance is given for development of sports infrastructure, acquisition of equipment and organising sports meets.
The outfit alleged that money was swindled without organising any sports meet.
Boby had clarified that the money was spent for organising sports meets in 10 disciplines in the districts and the boys and girls selected had been sent to national meets.
He said all the district youth affairs officers and sports officers had been instructed to submit detailed reports of utilisation of funds provided under the scheme. “Necessary action would be taken after getting the reports from the district officers,” the director said.
He urged everybody to extend help to the department’s efforts to groom talents and improve infrastructure in the state.
The outfit had also demanded a white paper on the use of the Rs 1 crore provided to the sports department by the Union sports ministry for organising the Queen’s Baton Relay in Manipur for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.
Biren Singh said the agencies and firms engaged for organising the baton relay were yet to be paid. There was no question of misuse of funds, he said.
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