Chairman appeals for free and fair poll
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 24 2012: Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council Chairman Sh Seipu has appealed to the authorities concerned to ensure free and fair polling for election of a new Chairman.

Polling has been necessitated to elect a new Chairman after the no confidence motion moved against the incumbent Chairman was supported by majority of the Members.

Speaking to media persons at Hotel Imphal this afternoon, Sh Seipu alleged that Vice Chairman Haokholal Hangsing led away seven Members on the intervening night of March 1 and 2 by misinforming them that the Chairman had convened an emergency meeting.

The seven unsuspecting Members were held hostage at gun point at a camp of the KRA.

The seven Members were forced under duress to tell their families that they were not abducted so that the family members would not lodge any complaint with the police.

In the absence of any complaint, police could not register a single FIR, he alleged.

Sh Seipu

The seven Members who were held hostage were S Khupsong, Seikhosat Kipgen, Lamkhomang Chongloi, Hemjathang, Nehkholam Chongloi, S Khuptinthang Vaiphei and Vumi Prasad, said Seipu.

The seven Members are being kept at the KRA camp even today.

The meeting held on May 23 at District Council House, Chingmeirong where the no confidence motion was discussed should be held at Kangpokpi, he demanded.

People of Sadar Hills were eagerly awaiting the meeting to see for themselves what the truth was.

However, the meeting was held at Imphal at the request of the seven Members.

Reluctance of the seven Members to attend meeting at Sadar Hills was a clear evidence that they were being kept hostage by KRA, Seipu alleged.

Conceding that the no confidence motion has already passed through, Seipu asserted that the polling for election of a fresh Chairman is held in a free and fair manner.

The ADC Kangpokpi may conduct the polling after the seven Members currently in KRA custody are freed and a sense of security instilled among them.

If the polling for election for a fresh Chairman is not held in free and fair manner in the presence of Sadar Hills people at Kangpokpi ADC complex, even violence of intense degree may break out, Seipu warned.

If there is any violence or casualty, Saikul AC MLA Yamthong Haokip should be held responsible for allegedly using the KRA to instigate some Members to raise the no confidence motion, Seipu warned.