Livingstone traceless, says Deputy Chief Minister
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 22 2012: Even as Assam Rifles troops surrounded a camp of NSCN-IM located in Chandel district and searched for Livingstone, who has been accused of molesting a film actress besides firing at two other artistes, the accused could not be located.

This was stated by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam during a press meet in his office chamber today.

Conveying about his conversation with IG AR (S) in connection with the Chandel outrage and subsequent activities of Assam Rifles, Gaikhangam said that AR surrounded and conducted an operation within an NSCN-IM camp located at Phungcham, Chandel district.

The CO of the camp reportedly told Assam Rifles that Livingstone had already fled away from the camp.

Subsequently, Assam Rifles and Police have conducted search operations in 4/5 villages.

With the State Government still confident that Livingstone could be inside the party's camp, Assam Rifles have been given a clear instruction to storm the particular camp, stated Gaikhangam.

On being asked about the presence of NSCN-IM's designated camps in Manipur, despite the State Government's repeated claims to the contrary, Gaikhangam maintained that Assam Rifles might have recognised the camps, but the State Government never recognised them.

State Government's response to the December 18 outrage was delayed for sometime as the Government received report about the incident 48 hours late.

For their failure to report in time about the incident, certain actions would be initiated against some personnel of Chandel police including an SI, Gaikhangam stated.

The State has already written to the Union Home Ministry to direct Assam Rifles to nab and hand over Livingstone to the State Govt.On being asked about veracity of the report that Livingstone's house at Chandel has been vandalised by people, the Deputy Chief Minister maintained that the Government has not received any official report.

Taking due note of the sensitive nature of the issue, he maintained that it is only natural for perpetrators of criminal acts to get punishment according to law irrespective of who and what they are.

Accordingly, police and Assam Rifles have launched search operations to nab the accused.

However, it is essential to inform the Centre.

It is for this matter Chief Minister O Ibobi left for New Delhi with the primary agenda of pulling up the accused through the cease fire monitoring cell.

Exuding that the Chief Minister's visit to New Delhi would evoke positive response, Gaikhangam informed that due reports have been sought from relevant authorities based on the charge that security personnel who were on duty at the concert venue remained mute and blind.

He also appealed to the mass to call off the ongoing agitation in view of Christmas festival.

"Let us celebrate Christmas together and pray for peace and harmony in the State", the Deputy Chief Minister stated.

To a query about the State's failure to enforce its own laws in the hill districts effectively, Gaikhangam cited shortage of manpower as well as infrastructure in police department.

Nonetheless, the Government would take up special measures to deploy more state forces in all the hill districts from next year, Gaikhangam added.

Meanwhile, information received from police sources said that all ten mobile phone numbers used by Livingstone are found to be in switch off mode.

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