Imphal, October 08: Hearings of the Upendra Commission of Inquiry on the incidents of June 18 and July 20 have been in progress till today.

Ex-ministers O Bihari Singh, Prof Gangmumei Kamei and M Okendra today deposed before the commission.

O Bihari Singh, giving his statement, said he was aware of the June 18 incident in which people of the state particularly those inhabiting Imphal, rose against the government of India-NSCN (IM) ceasefire extension to Manipur and burnt down several public buildings and official quarters of MLAs.

Prof Gangumei Kamei, in his statement before the commission, defended the mass uprising stating that it was reasonable taking into account the repeated assurance of the Centre not to extend the ceasefire to Manipur.

He said he did not know why the agitators on June 18 targeted the quarters of MLAs but denied that the attack on the legislators� residence had anything to do with their alleged apathy towards the people and the latter�s resentment.

Okendra, giving his account before the commission, said about 50 unidentified agitators entered his official quarters at Babupara around 2 pm on June 18 and ransacked the belongings and even tried to set fire to his bedroom.

But timely intervention of security guards and his family members prevented the agitators from burning the house.

However, he said the agitators took away his licensed firearm-a pistol.

During the cross-examination by the learned counsel of UCM, Okendra admitted that it was a duty of the people of the state including himself to fight for the territorial integrity of Manipur and it spontaneous action against the attitude of the central government.

It may be recalled that altogether 24 witnesses have appeared before the commission of inquiry since September 25 till today.

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