Imphal, September 23: While expressing resentment over the alleged failure of communicating to the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) on the ground rules of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) signed between the Government of Manipur and Kuki underground organisations, the Committee Chairman as well as the National Peoples' Party (NPP) have also strongly condemned the recent bomb attack at the residence of MLA T Hangkhanpao.

Talking to mediapersons today, Chairman of Hill Areas Committee Thangminlien Kipgen and president of NPP V Hangkhanlien, MLA said that absence of peace in Manipur and escalating violent incidents of bomb attacks and intimidations have caused uneasiness among the leaders working for the welfare of the people.

However, inspite of being subjected to pressures from these anti-social elements, the failure of the Government to inform the HAC, which represents 20 Assembly segments of the State Assembly, about the ground rules of the SoO signed between the Government of Manipur and the Kuki UG groups is really unfortunate, they said.

Though the signing of the SoO and announcement of ceasefire between the two parties is laudable, nonetheless, the Committee should have been given the information, asserted the two leaders.

They further said that as the Government has not given any response to the recommendations submitted by HAC in connection with development of the hill areas and other issues from time to time, a big gap has been created between the Committee and the Govt.Condemning the recent incident of bomb attack at the Churachandpur Nehru Park residence of NPP MLA T Hangkhanpao who has been elected from Singhat Assembly Constituency of Churachandpur district, the two leaders clarified that the MLA had not received any demand or threat from any underground organisations.

Since no group have come up with any explanation on the bomb attack till date, the family members have been living with fear, they said.

Demanding an explanation from all concerned on the reason for the bomb attack, the two leaders maintained that NPP is against such threats when there is the possibility of sorting out any problems through dialogue.

The prevailing culture of bomb attack and serving demand note should be stopped at once, they said.