Act of terrorism, says Dy CM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 21 2014: Strongly condemning the Khoyathong blast, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who also holds the Home portfolio, has said that killing innocent civilians is an act of terrorism.

He visited the injured persons of the blast at the Surgical Ward of RIMS hospital and assured all possible assistance to them from the side of the State Government.

The Deputy Chief Minister was accompanied by Principal Secretary, Home, J Suresh Babu, DGP Shahid Ahmed, ADGP LM Khaute, RIMS Medical Superintendent and other high ranking police officers and senior doctors.

During a brief interaction with reporters at the hospital, Gaikhangam denied security lapses on the part of Manipur Police regarding today's blast while claiming that police have already arrested two URF (Lalheiba) cadres, who were allegedly involved in the MG Avenue blast on December 15 .

Dy CM Gaikhangam visitng the injured at RIMS

He said that underground groups have now become dispirited as they do not have any future and hope and have started targeting innocent civilians.

Maintaining that such senseless killings are the signs of lack of ideology, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the organisation, whichever was involved in the blast, has turned their outfit into a terrorist group.

Stating that he does not know any revolutionary movement, which kill innocent civilians and poor labourers without any reason, Gaikhangam said that revolutionaries must not target developmental works and civilian population.

Saying that violence would never bring any solution, the Deputy Chief Minister said that armed groups would lose public trust and sympathy if they continue such senseless activities.

Responding to a query on why the CCTV cameras installed at different parts of Imphal are not functioning, Gaikhangam said that these cameras would be made functional at the earliest.

Saying that erratic power supply is the main hindrance in the proper functioning of these cameras, he said that solar energy devices would be fitted soon with these cameras.

Responding to a query on why URF cadres have taken up arms again after entering into a tripartite MoU involving State and Central Governments, Gaikhangam said that they were on the run as police started investigating the murder of two of their cadres inside their camp.

The two cadres were later buried after they were killed.

They fled their designated camp and took up arms due to fear of punishment on account of killing their own cadres, he added.

Answering to another query on whether cadres of SoO signatory groups have not been getting their honorarium due to non-extension of SoO after August this year, Gaikhangam said that there is no issue on SoO extension at all.

He said that the matter is about SoO signatory groups' demanding talks in Delhi.

However, the Centre had directed the State Government to continue talks at Imphal and they are ready to send officials concerned to the State capital regarding the matter.