CCpur hospital clash: KCP accuses VDF men of first strike
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 12 2013:
Clarifying its position with regard to the alleged thrashing of a police personnel at Churachandpur District Hospital on September 10, KCP-MC (Nongdren-khomba) group today held the victim cop (VDF personnel) and his colleagues responsible for the incident.
According to the group's president Nongdrenkhomba, some VDF personnel posted at the district hospital campus asked a KCP-MC cadre standing near the hospital gate purpose of his presence at the spot and moments later started to beat him up after overpowering and taking him inside a room of the hospital even as the victim identified himself to be a member of the outfit staying at the temporary designated camp established at the post of 46 Assam Rifles.
As the beating by the VDF men continued with the cadre's hands and legs tied up even after the victim told them that he came to visit an ailing colleague at the hospital, wife of the indisposed cadre spotting the thrashing rang up the designated camp from where about 10 more cadres arrived at the medical centre.
Even as the KCP group's cadres (reinforcement) profusely pleaded to release their thrashed colleague, the VDF personnel paid no heed subsequently leading to exchange of blows, Nongdrenkhomba explained while conveying apology to all concerned for the involvement of KCP cadres in the undesired incident.
Highlighting genesis of the incident during a media briefing held today at Manipur Press Club, the president maintained that some KCP-MC (N) cadres went to the district hospital as the ailing cadre was referred to another medical facility.
While one of the visiting cadres was clearing the hospital fee and another went to clear dues at the in-campus pharmacy the third was waiting near the hospital gate when about 2-3 VDF personnel on duty at the district hospital approached the cadre waiting at the gate.
Inspite of the said cadre identifying himself and purpose of the visit, the VDF men manhandled him subsequently provoking retaliatory action from the cadre's colleague, reiterated Nongdren- khomba who strongly proposed that a 'joint monitoring committee' be constituted to prevent recurrence of such unwanted incidents in the future.
Terming newspaper report that seemingly blamed the KCP cadres of abetting the incident and suggesting that newspapers authenticate such incidents before publishing the same, he also appealed to every section of the society not to interpret the case in communal tone.
Asserting that KCP-MC (Nongdrenkhomba) will take all possible measures to avert such incidents in the future and at the same time tendering a humble apology for involvement of its cadres in the unruly incident, the president further clarified that there is no connection with 46 Assam Rifles or 27 Sector AR in the incident.
Referring to recent signing of a memorandum with the Government of Manipur, he said the group deciding to return to the mainstream was under the objective of contributing its mite in restoring peace and promoting overall development in the society at large.
Pointing out that the KCP group joining the peace process is to further strengthen fraternal bond amongst the indigenous communities, Nongdrenkhomba opined that formation of the 'joint monitoring committee' would not only ensure averting all unwanted incidents but also facilitate expeditious and cordial solution to all outstanding problems.
Haobijam Taibangnganba of KCP (Lamphel) group was also present at the media briefing.