Office arson equates to destroying Manipur's history: UCM
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 24 2024:
The arson attack at the office of United Committee Manipur (UCM) is similar to setting fire and destroying the history of Manipur, Committee president Konthoujam Joychandra has stated.
Addressing a press meet held at Manipur Press Club, here, on Saturday, Joychandra recounted that UCM came into being as an apex organisation of the state, after the ceasefire agreement signed between the NSCN (IM) and the government of India in Bangkok in 2001 led to burning of Manipur and martyrdom of 18 martyrs people.
However, some unknown persons set fire to UCM's office in Lamphelpat on Friday night, which is highly unfortunate.
The burning of UCM's office is like burning the history of Manipur, he remarked and appealed to all not to repeat such acts in the future.
Joychandra continued that since 2001, the Committee had collected and compiled thousands of documents including historical ones.
On top of this, UCM had been preparing to publish a book compiled from documents documenting the boundary issue, payment of hills house tax in boundary areas, and the land area in 1961 and 1971, which are now lost to Myanmar.
None of these documents can be brought back with money, he remarked, while mentioning the loss of furniture, clothing, Rs 5.30 lakh in case kept inside a Godrej almirah for construction purposes and other cash donated by the people to upgrade the office.
The UCM president said that everyone has come forward to protect the unity and integrity of Manipur.
As such, we must try not to do such acts against one another, and allow the enemy to applaud any disagreement amongst ourselves.
We should work together to save our Meetei community with one heart and one soul, he asserted.
UCM consultant Yumnamcha Dilipkumar condemned the arson, adding that any disagreements could be sorted out through peaceful talks.
Questioning the efficiency of government's intelligence, Dilipkumar said that recent slew of incidents have shown the complete failure of government's intelligence, considering that the Lamphel Police Station is located at a distance of 300 metres from UCM's office.
However, no rescue efforts or timely presence was witnessed on Friday night, he lamented.
He continued that UCM is an umbrella organisation of various organisations and bodies and as such, its office should not have been burnt.
The culprits involved must be apprehended at the earliest and punished strictly, to de-.
ter any future occurrences.
In addition, the intelligence must be improved, he said, while stating that the government should bear the responsibility of the loss of public property and should launch an investigation immediately.