IMPHAL, July 14: The Manipuri Students’ Federation (MSF) will be observing the 7th Students’ Martyrdom on August 16 to commemorate the death anniversary of Pebam Chitaranjan. The former advisor of MSF set himself ablaze to demand the revocation of AFSPA from Manipur on August 15, 2004 at Bishnupur and succumbed to his injuries on the next day.
Giving details about the forthcoming observation, Laishram Ibomcha, president MSF, announce the formation of an observation committee to overlook the organization. He added that the memorial event will be organized in three different places of the state, namely Jiribam, Bishnupur and Imphal. The main function will be at Thau ground in Imphal where a mass public meeting is scheduled to take place, he adds.
He further informed that floral tribute will be paid in honour of the deceased at the memorial site at Sega Road Takhellambam Leikai, his birth-place.
General Secretary of MSF, Anash Shah, has appealed to all sections of the society to make the observation a grand success through their full co-operation and participation. He recalled the political turmoil in Manipur that lasted for months following the killing of Thangjam Manorama, allegedly by security personnel, and subsequently the ultimate sacrifice made by Pebam Chittaranjan against the continuation of AFSPA.
Further, he informed that MSF will be using new letter heads and seals from August 15 and requested the general public to contact it on 8575365167 and 8974778263, in case any individual is found using the old ones after the date.
Grandson found impersonating father to avail grandfather’s pension: vigilance
By Paojel Chaoba
IMPHAL July 14: A fraudulent application to avail a pension scheme, two different death certificates, a grandson pretending to be a beneficiary made up all the ingredients for an interesting case for the State Vigilance Commission.
A former employee of the PHE Department, one late Abdul Bari, a resident of Lillong Haoreibi Makha Leikai Laishiram Khong died at the age of 57. He was working as a Khalashi, on work charged basis in the department since 1984 and his status was regularized on March 31, 1994. However, Abdul died in less than a year from the date of his regularization i.e. on February 5, 1995.
It is mandatory for a government department to determine the date of termination of an employee to provide benefits under the provisions of the Work Charged Employees Act, one year of regularized service is also a pre requisite for grant of any family pension.
In the case of Abdul Bari, his second son had advanced a pension claim to the PHED authorities along with his father’s death certificate which read that Abdul died on 5/2/1995. After some time, his son again submitted another death certificate that Abdul died on 5/4/1995, which suggests that Abdul had served more than a year on a regularized basis.
To confirm the actual date of Abdul’s death, the chief engineer of the PHED sought cooperation from the State Vigilance Commission and a case was taken up accordingly.
The sleuths while investigating the matter found out that the two death certificates were awarded by the medical officer of Lillong primary health centre, namely one Dr. B Tarunkumar Sharma in 2004 and 2005. The case also dug out more dirt as it was found out that doctor Tarunkumar was transferred from Lillong PHC to the medical directorate on March 31, 2001, but managed to award certificates from his former posting centre years later. The matter is also being investigated after referred report submission to the concerned health department authorities.
The death certificates along with a court affidavit recognizing one Md Atabur Rehman as the second son of deceased Abdul Bari was submitted to the PHED and pension benefits to be awarded to Atabur Rehman as next of kin.
The Vigilance sleuths in a bid to confirm the actual identity of Atabur Rehman also carried out further investigation and came to a conclusion that Atabur Rehman is not the son of deceased Abdul Bari. It was found out with the help of the new photo verified voters list, a source said.
The source maintained that there was too much age gap between the deceased and his ‘alleged’ son. Moreover, there was much differences in anatomy. It was found out that Abdul Bari’s grandson, in this case Atabur Rehman had impersonated his father Abdul Matalip and managed to obtain death certificates of his grandfather just to avail the pension benefits.
The investigation concluded that Abdul Bari died in less than a year of regularized service, and the medical officer of Lillong PHC was not posted at the centre however he issued questionable certificates and that the claimant, Atabur Rehman is also not the entitled beneficiary.
