DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 12 (Mexn): The Nagaland Timber Traders’ Union (NTTU) has expressed sincere regret over a press statement issued earlier by the union about involvement of “top officials” and “higher-ups” of the Forest Department in an alleged manipulation of wagon allotment. Issuing another press statement, NTTU said that in the process of pointing out the alleged involvement of two persons connected with the Forest department, the union had “unintentionally dragged the name of the Forest department and tarnished the good image of other Forest officials.”
The statement jointly issued by the union’s president Kevise Sogotsu, general secretary Alem Pongener, vice president Husca Zhimomi and treasurer Sanyi Dukru, offered “unconditional apology” to the Forest department and dedicated officers and requested them to accept the apology in good faith.
Meanwhile, the union also said that as per the meeting with the chief minister who advised the timber traders to work “hand in hand” with the Forest department and officials, the NTTU members had a meeting with the commissioner & secretary, Forest, at the latter’s residence in Dimapur on September 11.
The union said that besides discussion on the alleged manipulation of wagons, the union also appraised the commissioner and secretary about the problems of the timber traders. After thorough deliberation and “clearing of doubts,” the union said it has withdrawn its earlier statement on alleged involvement of the commissioner and secretary in the wagon manipulation issue.
