Imphal, July 25: Ethno Heritage Council (Hericoun) has decried the leniency shown by the Government and its armed forces toward the volunteers of ANSAM who have been enforcing economic blockade along the National Highways for more than a month now cutting off the main lifelines of the people.

In a statement, assistant publicity secretary of the Council, Ropendro Chenglei wondered why the State Government has not been able to arrest a single volunteer of the agitating student body although it had used brute force against the agitators demanding repealing of AFSPA and introduction of Meetei Mayek in the past.

He recounted the past instances in which police personnel exercised brutal force on students of Manipur University who were demonstrating in front of the Governor's gate against the prolonged imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Anti-Armed Forces Special Powers Act agitators at Lamlai and the crack down launched against Meetei Mayek activists and booking them under NSA recently.

Where has the �courage' of the police personnel gone now ?, he asked in a mocking tone.

Questioning the rationale behind the silence of the State Government, Hericoun wondered whether there has been some instruction from the Union Government in this regard.

If it is true, then it is worrisome as it is bound to have some implications on the ongoing peace process between the Centre and the NSCN (I-M), Chenglei observed.