Govt denies giving Upendra’s details

Opposition stages walkout

Raipur, February 26, 2013

Congress on Tuesday sought details of notorious criminal Upendra Singh in the state assembly, but the government refused to do so to maintain confidentiality. Expressing dissatisfaction over government’s response, the principal opposition staged walkout from the House.

Hitting the government over train hijack episode, the mater was raised by leader of opposition Ravindra Choubey during call attention. Choubey asked the government to inform the House why Singh was shifted to Bilaspur jail from Durg jail. He also demanded details of people who met Singh at Bilaspur jail.

In response, the parliamentary secretary for home affairs Vijay Baghel said shifting of Singh from one jail to other was internal matter of the jail department. On Singh’s visitors at jail Baghel said he could not furnish the requisite information as he was supposed to maintain confidentiality. 

Baghel informed the House that six out of 11 criminals related to train hijack case had been arrested while the remaining five would soon be nabbed. 

He further informed that home department had suspended head constable Virendra Singh and constables Asharam Kurre and Suchit Sharma for posing negligence at duty and not keeping rifles while taking Upendra Singh to Durg court for hearing. Disciplinary action will be taken against the trio after conducting department inquiry into the matter, he said.

The department will also take disciplinary action against head constables Arman Ali and Jugal Kishore who provided only handcuffs and not rifles to the three cops when they took Upendra Singh along with them, he said.

Baghel said the police was intensely searching Upendra Singh and hoped that the latter would soon be arrested.

How minister can become complainant

Earlier, Choubey grilled government during question hour. Congress MLA Rajkamal Singhania had sought information pertaining to action taken on illegal mining being done in Balodabazar-Bhatapara district. 

In his written reply, chief minister Raman Singh informed that the mining department received six complaints pertaining to illegal mining in Balodabazar-Bhatapara district by December 31, 2012. Among the complainants, the name of the then commerce and industries minister Dayaldas Baghel was on the top of the list. He had complained of misuse of limestone in construction of under-bridge. 

Objecting over Baghel’s name in the list of complainants, Choubey added supplementary question and sought clarification from CM as how did the former, despite being a minister, became complainant.

“A minister takes constitutional oath. He is supposed to take action. It is surprising that Baghel became complainant,” he inquired. 

The CM clarified that as the ministers forward complaints received from villagers for action, Baghel too did the same and therefore his name came in the list of complainant.

In his written reply, the CM also informed that on Baghel’s complaint, the mining department conducted probe and discovered that Ambuja Cement had illegally excavated 215 tonne limestone. Hence, a case was registered against Ambuja Cement under Mining Act and a fine of Rs 135450 imposed on it.