Congress, Left parties demand investigation
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 23 2021: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has demanded the government for a judicial enquiry into the assassination of former president and incumbent advisor of Zeliangrong Baudi Athuan Abonmai after abducting him from the programme venue of Chief Minister at Tamenglong town in the presence of security personnel.

Addressing a press meet at Congress Bhawan here on Thursday, MPCC working president MLA K Meghachandra said that Congress party strongly condemns the abduction and subsequent assassination of the tribal leader, who has been vocal for a united Manipur and the government cannot remain silent over the incident.

He demanded the government to institute a judicial enquiry headed by a sitting judge of high court.

He also demanded the government to clarify the lapses in the tight security, which was arranged for the visit of chief minister and other cabinet ministers and how the security personnel allowed the armed cadres to abduct him in front of their very eyes.

Meghachandra termed it as a total failure of law and order in hill areas of the state and demanded the government to award befitting punishment to all those district officials responsible for security arrangements within 24 hours.

The DGP should also bring out a report to the public, he asserted.

MPCC working president I Hemochandra said that the government should not take the incident lightly as Athuan Abonmai was abducted from the venue of a programme which was scheduled to be attended by the CM himself.

He also ridiculed the CM's claim of hill-valley unity stating that the assassination of the tribal leader who preached hill-valley unity exposed the ground reality.

Questioning the security arrangements at the event, he demanded an independent enquiry into the security failure.

Meanwhile, terming the assassination of Athuan as unfortunate, barbaric and condemning the broad daylight abduction and murder despite heavy deployment of security personnel, Left parties have demanded the government to order a high level enquiry into the incident.

CPI, CPI-M, RSP and AIFB held a joint meeting on Thursday and decried the assassination of the tribal leader, whom the meeting regarded as a leader who raised his voice for the unity and integrity of the state, and for development of both hill and valley areas at par.

Observing that he was abducted by armed persons in front of security personnel posted there in relation with the Go to Hills programme, which was to be attended by the chief minister, the meeting maintained that a high level enquiry is needed to find out the reason for security failure.

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