Manipur fails to utilize funds for police

Imphal, May 10: Even though political parties have been harping on modernizing the security forces of the state, the government has failed to utilize the funds for the past some years under the Security Related Expenses (SRE) sponsored by the Centre. An officials source said out of the released amount by the Centre the State had to return back Rs 19.43 crore during the year 1998-99, Rs 3.44 crore during 1999-2000, Rs 14.17 crore during 200-2001 and Rs r crore during 2001-2002. The total amount comes to a staggering Rs 41.08 crore. The scheme has been allotted to the state for purchasing new armored vehicles, upgrading old vehicles with bullet proofing, hi-tech mobiles for communications, bomb detector and computers among others. It also includes improving the jails, detention centres, training state police and prison administration personnel, setting up of new battalions of IRB, payment of ex-gratia to persons affected during encounters with militants, transportation of militants from outside the state etc. the statement further disclosed that some additional provisions have been included under the SRE scheme from the year 200. They are fuel for the police transportation, payment of village guards, village defence committees and home guards. However, even in this matter, the State failed to utilize half of the funds, it added.