IE SP warns against rally, Thabal Chongba
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 22 2021:
Imphal East SP Jogeshchandra Haobijam has warned that law enforcing agencies would take necessary action as per law if any one is found organising public rally, using loud speakers and Thabal Chongba without necessary permit from the district administration.
Briefing media persons at Heingang police station today, Jogeshchandra clarified that Imphal East District Police did not commit any excess with regard to the rally led by EK Higher Secondary School Principal P Saratchandra in Heingang Assembly Constituency yesterday although police did take up necessary action as demanded by law.
Some people of Saratchandra informed Heingang police station on March 21 that they would take out a 25 Kms long rally on March 21 and sought permission for using loud speaker, Jogeshchandra said.
The OC of Heingang PS told Saratchandra's men that he did not have the authority to grant permission for using loud speaker but the same should be sought from the district administration.
A team of Heingang police station rushed to Heingang Mayai Leikai Ground at around 8 am yesterday as specific information was received about a rally which was supposed to be flagged off from there.
The police team asked the organisers of the rally to produce the district administration's permit but the organisers could not produce any permit.
As such, police thwarted the rally.
The police team was only enforcing law and they did not commit any excess, said the SP.
Had the organisers obtained the necessary permit, police could have guarded the rally throughout its course, he said.
However, Saratchandra not only hindered police personnel from discharging their duty but also defied the police prohibition and tried to take out the rally several times.
Left with no other option, he was taken to Heingang police station and detained there, Jogeshchandra said.
He was released later after he signed an undertaking in the presence of his wife that he would not do anything not permitted by law, the SP continued.
It is rather unfortunate that Saratchandra was trying to project Imphal East District Police in the wrong light by feeding fabricated and baseless stories to media in the aftermath of the incident, he said.
Reminding that the district administration has already banned Thabal Chongba in order to protect the people of Imphal East from the COVID-19 second wave, the SP warned that police would not remain silent if anyone defies this ban.