Three vehicles burned down, one bolero still missing in Tamenglong
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Daniel Kamei
Tamenglong, September 21 2011:
Unidentified persons set ablaze three vehicles at Tamenglong bazaar in front of SUI's Hotel at around 12.45 am today.
One bolero belonging to one Pouheu Pame, Finance Committee of Tamenglong Autonomous District Council was burnt from his residence.
An FIR has been lodge at the Tamenglong police station.
Musical instruments costing more than 3 lacs of the artists which were kept inside the vehicles were also burnt in the blaze.
The vehicles were coming from Imphal and carrying artists and musical instruments for a function organized by Janghemlung Panmei (an aspiring candidate for Tamenlong 53 ST assembly constituency) and scheduled to be held at Trinity Public School complex today.
The vehicles, two Bolero jeeps, MNO4 A/5795, MNO3P/2323 both belonging to one Hijam Suresh of Wangkhei, Imphal east and another Tata Safari MNOIK/ 6893 belonging to one Z.Kikhonbou was burnt totally.
Kikhoubou is also an aspiring candidate of Tamei A/C .
He came to attend leader's consultative meeting at Tamenglong HQs yesterday.
Shocked and surprised at the burning of his vehicles he appealed to all those responsible to explain the reason why they have done so, and added that he did not receive any threat or opposition to his attending the consultative meeting.
In the meantime, the act of arson was strongly condemned by various civil organizations of Tamenglong district.
A press meet was organized today evening at the Zeliangrong House, Apollo bazaar Tamenglong and attended by representatives of Zeliangrong Womens' Union Manipur, Zeliangrong Youth Front, Zeliangrong Students'Union Tamenglong District, Zeliangrong Elders' Forum for Peace Broker and Zeliangrong Union, Tamenglong Zone.
The members present at the meeting jointly voiced their condemnation of the wanton act of arson and appealed to the concerned individuals or organization not to perpetrate similar action in future.
D Dikambui, co-convener of Zeliangrong Elders for Peace Brokers said that the act may create confusion among the public.
" Since elections are nearby and three aspiring individuals are contesting the upcoming election, such acts may create a sense of alienation and unwanted incidents may crop up, we will investigate the matter and also inform the concerned authorities to book the culprits", he said.
During times of hardship, the public should refrain from spreading rumors which may disturb the communal harmony and further aggravate the issues, he added.