TRCC members assaulted for allegedly making video recordings of illegal quarrying in Thoubal river
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, August 28 2019: Nine members of Thoubal River Conservation Committee (TRCC), who were making video recordings and photographs of illegal quarrying of sands and rocks from Thoubal river, were allegedly attacked and threatened by a group of people led by President of Nung Leingoi Worker's Association from Leirongthel on August 25, reports our correspondent.

After the High Court of Manipur issued order to ban illegal quarrying of sands and rocks from Thoubal river and while the State Govt is trying to roll out certain regulation for the order to take effect, TRCC received specific information that illegal quarrying of sands and rocks have been carried out at Thoubal river surreptitiously by some crooks following which the nine members of the committee went there to make some video recordings and photograph which will act as physical evidences, added our correspondent and said that mobile phones, Drone Camera and other belongings of the members worth about Rs 3,23,000 were destroyed in the attack.

TRCC members assaulted for allegedly making video recordings of illegal quarrying in Thoubal river

It is said that on August 25, a 9 members team led by Chairman, TRCC Ak Bishwajit, during their inspection journey, found illegal quarrying in Thoubal river using JCB excavators and Crawler excavators at Moirangpurel, Nongbram, Changamdabi and Chandrakhong and made video recordings of all the illegal activities using Drone attached with camera.

However, while returninng, a group of people allegedly stopped the members at Leirongthel and took away all their belongings including 10 mobile phones, drone camera and two cars and locked them inside a Club nearby.

Before they were detained, the hooligans had allegedly started misbehaving with the members of the Committee and even physically assaulted some of the members on the way to the Club.

They were even threatened to kill if they donot withdraw the PIL filed at High Court.

It has been reported that a team of Nongpok Sekmai police led by OC Inspector Nabakanta rushed to the spot under the direction of SP Thoubal Police Dr Ibomcha and rescued the committee members from the clutch of thugs.

However, all the mobile phones and drone camera were returned destroyed and all the video evidences and photograph were also spoiled, added our correspondent.

As such, TRCC appealed the concerned authority to look into the matter so that illegal quarrying stop at Thoubal river.