Manipur Govt sends request for CBI probe on Monika issue, security beefed up 

Imphal, Aug 11: Manipur Government today sent a formal request to the Centre today seeking a CBI probe into the "manipulative game" played by IOA and Sports Authority of India (SAI) to keep out weightlifter Monika Devi of the Beijing Olympics.

State chief secretary Rakesh on behalf of the government wrote a letter to the Union Secretary Satyananda Mishra, Ministry of Personnel and Public Grievances, seeking a CBI probe into Monika's doping charges. A copy of the letter has also been sent to the CBI director, Aswhani Kumar. 

Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who is camping here, also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today seeking his intervention in directing officials concerned to take up the matter (CBI inquiry) on a priority basis. 

The chief minister had taken up Monika's case with the Prime Minister on Saturday in an effort to send the lifter to the Indian contingent in Beijing. 

But the IOA had categorically said Monika could not join the contingent as all procedures were closed in Beijing. 

Manipur Sports Minister, N Biren who is also camping in the national capital, said, "Anybody found guilty in the manipulating game and preventing Monika from participating in Olympics should not be spared." 

The clearance for the lifter, who was dropped from the Indian squad for Olympics almost at the eleventh hour on July 6 after she had reportedly tested positive for an unidentified anabolic steroid, came from SAI on August 9. 

SAI provides samples for testing to the National Dope Testing Laboratory in New Delhi. Monika has alleged "manipulation" in her samples collected on June 6 this year in Pune. 

Monika's exclusion from the team became a major issue in Manipur with bandhs being called by public and sports associations threatening to pull out of upcoming national events. 

Meanwhile, security measures were today beefed up in Manipur in view of widespread protests against dropping of weightlifter Laishram Monika from the Indian Olympics contingent. 

The security was tightened particularly in four valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishenpur and Thoubal. 

A report from Bishenpur district, from where Monika hails, said hundreds of people took out a rally in district headquarters today to protest against Monika's exclusion from the team. 

Official reports said several civil organistions and sports-lovers have been protesting in different parts of the state in the past few days demanding punishment for the officials involved in the entire episode. 

Convener of the Left Coordinating Committee in Manipur L Sotin Kumar said CPI and CPI (M) would soon submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister demanding resignation of IOA President Suresh Kalmadi and Sports minister M S Gill on moral grounds for Monika's exclusion from the team. 

Asking for a separate sports policy, Manipur Students' Federation (MSF) today said it would boycott national leaders visiting the state until the officials involved in the dropping of Monika from the Indian Olympic squad are sacked. 

The regional party also urged the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and Member of Parliaments from Manipur to take up the issue with appropriate authorities. 

Manipur People's Party (MPP), CPI and CPI(M) have also demanded a thorough investigation into the incident.