Mahatma Gandhi's statue beheaded in Ukhrul
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray
Ukhrul, April 15 2012:
In an act that can be termed as gravest treason, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, considered to be the gather of Nation, erected in the heart of Ukhrul town, was found to have been beheaded by miscreants in the wee hours of Sunday.
The incident has evoked strong criticism among the public.
According to the Ukhrul police, unidentified miscreants vandalized the statue of the Father of Nation erected at the Gandhi Chowk, opposite to the Ukhrul Town Hall between 12.30 am to 1am on Sunday.
On receiving the report, Police rushed to the spot and found the statue vandalized and the head missing.
They quickly sealed the remaining part of the statue in a rug.
Interestingly, the incident at Gandhi Chowk happened just about 50m away from Police Reserve line.
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After conducting a spot inquiry this morning, Police lodged an FIR (11/4/2012) against unidentified persons and investigation is on to nab the culprits.
When contacted, Ukhrul SP K Kabib assured that the culprits would be nabbed and booked under relevant Act of the Indian Penal Code.
The news spread like a wildfire in Ukhrul town and several people turned up to take a look at the statue, which is now clothed in a rug.
A team of Hunphun Executive Council (HEC) also paid a visit and condemned the "shameless act" committed against the universal symbol of non-violence.
In related incidents, two stone plates of MGNREGS located in different localities of Phungreitang West were also found destroyed by miscreants around the same time.
Police suspect that the incidents are all connected and might have been committed with a pre-plan as the miscreants targeted everything related to Mahatmi Gandhi.
Public feel the incident at Gandhi Chowk is also a matter of serious significance for Ukhrul.
The venue is a "seat of peace" - a sort of London's Hyde Park for Tangkhul civil societies that has for years been staging any kind of peaceful demonstrations and protests.
Incidentally, a peaceful mass rally has been slated on Monday for release of Ningkhan Anthony Shimray, head of NSCN (IM)'s for affairs, who is detained in Tihar prison.