Two candidates, O Joy stripped of security escorts
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 21 2019: Notwithstanding the fact that the process of the ongoing 17th Lok Sabha election would be completed only on May 27 and the model code of conduct will remain in force till then, the State Government has withdrawn security escorts from two candidates of Outer Manipur PC and a former Minister who is now a senior Congress leader.

Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan here this afternoon, veteran politician and MPCC spokesman Okram Joy conveyed that Manipur Police issued an order on April 19 directing the authority concerned to withdraw MR or IRB personnel allotted to NCP candidate Angam Karung Kom, NEIDP candidate Ashang Kasar and himself as house guards cum personal escorts.

Two candidates, O Joy stripped of security escorts

The particularly order seriously undermines the country's Parliamentary system and it is an attempt to intimidate and silence Opposition parties, Joy said.

He said that security escorts were allotted to him since 1981-82 without any interruption till date.

With the imposition of AFSPA 1958 in the entire State in 1980, cases of involuntary disappearances surfaced, said the veteran politician and recalled that the first cases of involuntary disappearances were those of Loken, Lokendra and Chandam Chaoba and they cannot be traced till date, Joy said.

The case of Chandam Chaoba was raised in the State Assembly as well as at the Gauhati High Court.

"A letter detailing the arrest, torture and death of Chaoba was produced at the High Court in the course of trial and an original copy of the letter is still with me", said the veteran politician.

Joy continued that subsequent upon his efforts to bring justice to the case of Chandam Chaoba, he was attacked by some unknown persons with firearms along NH-39 near MDU Hall and he escaped the attack by a whisker.

He said that he was given security escorts following the incident.

"On December 13, 1999, I went to attend a marriage ceremony at Maibam Leikai but some 14/15 well armed persons clad in military fatigue overpowered my security escorts and confiscated all their weapons.

The armed persons also fired at me but I survived because my wife and son shielded me.

My son sustained injuries in the attack", Joy recalled.

He said that he made some statements to media on July 18 last year against the BJP-led State Government's failure to convene a special session of the State Assembly regarding the Framework Agreement signed between the Government of India and NSCN-IM on August 3, 2015 .

"In response, I received a letter from Ukhrul which threatened me", Joy said.

"As a Congressman, I took active roles in the ongoing Lok Sabha election and as a member of an Opposition party, I criticised the Government but it is a matter of grave concern that the Government chose to avenge my criticisms by withdrawing security escorts allotted to me", Joy decried.

By doing so, the State Government has been challenging democracy, and is also attempting to silence all Opposition parties.

Nonetheless, a representation has been sent to the Chief Secretary, the DGP and the ECI with an appeal to review the State Government's decision of withdrawing security escorts, he added.