RAF accused of harassing civilians
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 08 2023:
The Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been accused of harassing civilians in the name of search operations at Sanjenthong Awang Leikai.
Local Meira Paibis said that they have been keeping a close vigil since the very first day of the violent crisis so as to thwart any act of arson in the locality.
As different communities have been living together almost next door, torching any house would spread to the neighbouring houses in no time and it would lead to catastrophe.
"That is why we have been keeping a close vigil round the clock", they said.
Perhaps in connection with an incident of burning some wooden planks brought out from a Kuki house on the bank of Imphal River, around 100 personnel of RAF came to the locality along with some men in civilian fatigue yesterday and searched for a particular man.
Starting from the morning, the RAF personnel came repeatedly and searched for the particular man till evening.
The RAF personnel also threatened the Meira Paibis, even to the extent of manhandling one of them, said the local women.
The RAF personnel said that all the people of the locality would be skinned alive just like the particular man whom they have been searching for in case the man is found in the locality.
Meanwhile, local MLA Th Arunkumar visited Sanjenthong Awang Leikai today and talked with the local Meira Paibis about the incident.
Later, speaking to media persons, Arunkumar said that Wangkhei AC is the most sensitive Assembly Constituency among all the Assembly segments of the valley and it witnessed many incidents during the violent crisis.
He then recalled that three RAF personnel were pulled up and suspended for torching a butcher's shop at Chassad Avenue some days back.
The MLA said that he would take up the matter of excesses committed by the RAF personnel at Sanjenthong Awang Leikai with the relevant authority so that necessary action can be initiated.
It was the local Meira Paibis who had been preventing people coming from other places from torching houses at Sanjenthong Awang Leikai, Arunkumar said.
Saying that he would enquire as to why the RAF personnel were searching for a particular man, the MLA assured that he would take up the matter with the Chief Minister.