The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ending March 31, 2022, found release of money to accounts of SoO cadres against the guidelines of Security Related Expenditure.
As per the report, a total of Rs 27.38 crore was released to the accounts of cadres under Suspension of Operation (SoO) without linking of unique biometric identification numbers, which is against the guidelines of Security Related Expenditure.
For this matter, the report recommended linking unique biometric identity numbers of the SoO cadres for making payment for better transparency. It also recommended to fix responsibility on the concerned person for making payment to the SoO cadres without linking of unique biometric identity numbers.
The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ending March 31, 2022, was laid before the Manipur Legislative Assembly on February 29, 2024 and was made available to the media houses on Saturday.
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The report also found no strategic plan for the functioning of the Modernisation of Police Force (MPF) scheme during 2016-17 to 2020-21 in the Manipur Home department.
As per the report, no strategic plan was prepared by the state government during 2016-17 to 2020-21 under MPF scheme due to which many important activities relating to modernisation have either been delayed considerably or not implemented.
Annual Action Plans of 2016-17 to 2020-21 were submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) with a delay of approximately one to over two months which subsequently delayed its approval, release of funds and implementation of the modernisation activities programmes, it said.
Highlighting the lack of prioritisation and no monitoring of the implementation of the scheme of MPF, it said despite availability of funds under the scheme, there was tardy implementation and funds remained unspent every year (2016-22). As on 31 March 2022, Rs 41.09 crore remained unspent.
It also pointed out that there were huge shortages of modern arms such as Carbine Amogh, Ghatak Rifle, Glock Pistol as well as shortages of ammunition.
Keeper of Technical Equipment (KOTE) where weapons and ammunition are kept were in dilapidated condition without adequate fire fighting equipment and proper boundary wall, it said adding, “The department failed to utilise the available funds to purchase modern weapons.”
It stated that there are an excess number of Light Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles in some SP offices while there were shortages in most of the police stations and in some SP offices.
Also there was less number of heavy and medium vehicles in all Armed Police units, it said adding the department further failed to utilise the available funds to purchase vehicles.
The report also highlighted the serious shortages of equipment and manpower faced by the State Forensic Science Laboratory.
Shortages of much needed manpower across different cadres had not been addressed, it said, adding that the department also failed to utilise the allocated fund by Centre to strengthen Manipur Forensic Science Laboratory with modern equipment.
In all these regards, it recommended the state government to prioritise the requirements of the police force under MPF and strictly monitor the progress of implementation of MPF and utilisation of funds thereof as per priorities.
It also recommended addressing the shortage of weapons and ammunition on priority basis as it could limit operational efficiency of the police force, the shortages of vehicles to improve mobility of the police force and the shortage of technical manpower in the forensic science laboratories.
Crime and Criminal Tracking Network Systems (CCTNS) was not fully functional in the State even after 12 years from the date of implementation of the Scheme, it said, recommending complete networking in all police stations and to appoint System Integrator under CCTNS.
