Itanagar: The Chakma Hajong Rights Alliance (CHRA), the representative of Chakma and Hajongs organisations in Arunachal Pradesh, in a press release on Saturday stated that the anti-corruption bureau of Arunachal Pradesh Police, Special Investigation Cell (SIC), is not taking any action against the accused who siphoned off Rs 27.51 crore meant for rehabilitation and resettlement of Chakma households displaced by the construction of Itanagar Greenfield airport at Hollongi in Papum Pare district.
“No arrest has been made as on date despite the registration of the First Information Report (FIR) by the SIC on 6th September 2022 against the then Deputy Commissioner cum Project Administrator, then DLRSO, Bijay Ranjan Chakma, President of the Chakma Rehabilitation and Resettlement Committee (CRRC); Sambasur Chakma, General Secretary of the CRRC, Dharma Chakma, Treasurer of the CRRC and other accused under Sections 120-B, 406, 409 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act with respect to Rs 27.51 crore Hollongi airport rehabilitation scam,” the CHRA claimed.
The funds were sanctioned for 156 Chakma families displaced by the Hollongi airport under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (LARR Act), 2013.
“The LARR Act is absolutely clear that the rehabilitation and resettlement funds have to be deposited into the bank account of each displaced person linked with Aadhaar Card.
Instead of transferring the funds to the displaced victims, the Project Administrator illegally created the CRRC and transferred the rehabilitation funds to the CRRC, and the funds thereafter were criminally misappropriated.
After the registration of the FIR more than seven months ago, no action has been taken against the accused officials or the CRRC office bearers by the SIC despite the fact that the rehabilitation funds were not transferred to any of the victims. It amounts to protecting the accused,” stated Krishna Chakma, spokesperson of the CHRA.
“The accused belonging to the CRRC are roaming freely, ridiculing the registration of the FIR and often threatening the displaced victims. If this continues, the victims can be intimidated not to testify, affecting the investigation itself. Is the aim of the SIC to protect the accused?” asked Rup Singh Chakma, president of the Arunachal Pradesh Chakma Students’ Union.
“The lack of action against the Hollongi airport rehabilitation scam poorly reflects on Chief Minister Pema Khandu government on tackling corruption in the State. The failure to take action against the scamsters of the Hollongi airport rehabilitation scam shows the freedom enjoyed by those accused of corruption in the State,” Santosh Chakma, president of the Committee for Citizens Rights of the Chakmas and Hajongs of Arunachal Pradesh (CCRCHAP), remarked.
