GUWAHATI, March 6 - In what smacks of a deep-rooted chain of corruption in the Transport department vis-�-vis coal syndicate, the closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) installed at the Khanapara check gate to keep a tab on illegal transport have been found to be non-functional.
During the course of investigation into the illegal coal syndicate, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has found that not a single camera was linked with digital video recorder and the cameras were thus serving as mere �show pieces�.
Meanwhile, four of the six Enforcement officials summoned by the CID have moved the Gauhati High Court seeking anticipatory bail despite the fact that they have been served notices under Section 160 of the CrPC, primarily inferring them as witnesses and not as accused.
The Chief Minister�s Office taking a strong exception to the non-functioning of the CCTVs at the check gate located in Khanapara will now seek answer from the top brass of the Transport department as to why the cameras which were strategically installed to set accountability in the functioning of the check gates were kept in such a state.
�There is a barrage of questions cropping up now. This could be a deliberate attempt to cover up the rampant illegal smuggling. The top brass cannot shy from its responsibility. One would not be surprised to find involvement of some top officials in the illegal trade,� sources opined.
�The CID team went to survey the check gate to find out how the entire proceedings are recorded. It, however, found out that not a single camera was linked to digital video recording system meaning that nothing was getting recorded or stored for future reference,� sources told The Assam Tribune.
Official sources further stated that it is now being investigated to find out the time since when the cameras got dysfunctional or whether the system was crippled to suit the coal syndicate nexus and why no corrective measures were initiated.
CID sources meanwhile said that District Transport Officer (Enforcement) Prasenjit Ghosh, who has been summoned by it tomorrow, will have to answer all these questions.
