Travellers along Imphal-Ukhrul road allege excesses by ILP supporters
Source: Hueiyen News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, August 18 2015:
Amidst the sustained agitation demanding ILP implementation in the State, travellers along the Imphal-Ukhrul road have alleged that they have become a soft target of the irate ILP supporters.
"It is unfortunate that many residents of Ukhrul district who headed homewards from Imphal have been targeted and victimized by an unruly mob of ILP volunteers on several occasions," said a government lady employee on condition of anonymity during a press briefing at UDWJA office on Monday evening.
The lady who was returning home from Imphal along with a friend in her car on Sunday noon, narrated the ordeal they were subjected to at Sawombung along the route.
"We were unaware that there was unannounced blockade related to ILP demand yesterday, but as we reached Sawombung a bunch of volunteers intercepted our vehicle saying that we could not proceed since a blockade was in force which we duly complied.
But as we were making a U-turn towards Imphal, a mob of volunteers suddenly ran towards us and started attacking with iron bars and clubs causing damages to our vehicle" .
Pointing out that only people heading towards Ukhrul district are targeted, she said that such unruly behavior on the part of certain volunteers could have far reaching consequences for the peaceful coexistence between the valley and hill communities.
"Many travellers have been victimized by volunteers in the same manner and we may be the latest victims in a series of similar attacks," she lamented before adding that such excesses could resulted in casualties and are even violations of human rights.
Stating that we the travellers have nothing to do with the government failure to implement ILP, she appealed to those supporters not to repeat such acts upon innocent travellers along the route.