Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress (MPTC) decries police crackdown
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 24 2012:
Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress (MPTC) has denounced the State Government's reaction to the ongoing agitation which according to its president Kim Gangte is characterised by imposition of curfew and massive police crackdown even to the extent of killing a journalist on duty.
Speaking to some media persons at Hotel Excellency here today, Kim Gangte said that her party strongly condemned Government's disrespect for human rights which was manifested when it deployed heavy police force and empowered them to use tear gas canisters and even live bullets against unarmed protesters.
Instead of merely placing them under suspension, all those police personnel involved in killing the journalists should be terminated from service and due punitive actions should be initiated against them as per law, Kim said.
MPTC is also surprised at the stoic silence maintained by the Governor in the face of grave situation unfolding in the State, she remarked.
The accused who outraged modesty of a woman should be booked and punished according to law.
At the same time, people should be very cautious about the way they carry out protest movements lest the movement may get muddied by misplaced sense of communalism.
MPTC Legislature wing leader Dr I Ibohalbi asserted that the act of killing a journalist deliberately cannot be justified under any circumstances.
It ought to be condemned by one and all.
It is a matter of serious concern that police personnel who are meant to protect lives and properties of citizens turn their weapons towards innocent people.
Pointing out that the bestial and arrogant conduct of the NSCN-IM cadre was the root cause of the existing issue, Dr Ibohalbi asserted that it is the collective wish and demand of the people to arrest and punish the rogue NSCN-IM cadre.
MLA Th Bishwajit said that the State have seen many issues of different types but the State Government's responses were more or less the same and they were always ad-hoc in nature.
As such, no permanent solution was achieved to any of these myriad issues.
Condoling the demise of journalist Thangjam Dwijamani alias Nanao, Bishwajit conveyed solidarity to the bereaved family as well as the journalist fraternity of the State.
He also demanded adequate compensation for the bereaved family from the Government side.