Reprisal for poll defeat : UNC resolves to exact fine of Rs 1000
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 06 2014: The United Naga Council's fault finding or accountability fixing mission in the aftermath of the defeat of NPF candidate in the 16th Lok Sabha election in Outer Mani-pur is not yet over.

After former MP and independent candidate Mani Charenamei was slapped with a social boycott call, the UNC has decided to identify all the Naga voters who did not vote in favour of the NPF candidate and impose a fine of Rs 1000 each, informed a well placed source though the same could not be confirmed officially.

Even though the source did not disclose when did the UNC took this resolution, the source informed that the UNC has started sending wri-tten notices to voters suspec- ted to have voted for other candidates than the NPF candidate.

While the UNC asked the 'defaulting' voters to pay a fine of Rs 1000 each within a specified period, armed cadres have been intimidating and thrashing civilians in different villages.

Rally being taken out on the Alternative Arrangement : File Photo

Earlier, the UNC announced social boycott of independent candidate Mani Charenamei on the charge that he questioned the legitimacy of the Alternative Arrangement demand during his election campaign.

Notably, Mani Chare-namei contested the 14th Lok Sabha election as UNC sponsored candidate and won the Outer Lok Sabha seat.

After being elected as an MP, Mani Charenamei joined the Alternative Arrangement Committee and took pro-active roles in its different activities.

But this year, Mani Charenamei contested the Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate.

Although it is obvious that UNC has some deep-rooted ill-feelings against Mani Cha-renamei, many Zeliangrong civil organisations publicly condemned and questioned UNC decision to boycott the former MP.

Even if the UNC's decisions are driven by their disappointment and anger, the steps taken up by them are unacceptable from the legal perspective.

It is the wish of the Naga people to bring a solution to the Indo-Naga peace process as soon as possible and Naga organisations are fully aware of the people's desire.

But some organisations, sometimes, acted contrary to the wish of the Naga people.

This often proved the biggest setback in all problem-solving efforts.

There is no guarantee that the UNC's act of reprisal would not affect the ongoing peace process, added the source.