Aspiring candidate assaults voter over MLA's visit
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 01 2011: Even though the schedule of the election to the State Legislative Assembly has not yet been finalised, a group of people led by an aspiring candidate brutally assaulted the family members of a voter on alleged charge of entertaining the visit of the sitting MLA in their house.

The incident occurred in the morning of February 26 at Yairipok Kekru under Yairipok police station in Thoubal.

Yairipok Kekru falls within the jurisdiction of Wangkhem Assembly Constituency.

Talking to mediapersons in connection with the incident at the office of Human Rights Law Network at Paona Bazar here today evening, Md Arif Khan (23), s/o late Md Kiran informed that MLA K Meghachandra Singh came to their house at around 8.30 am on February 26 for having a discussion about community development.

After the discussion, the MLA had tea before leaving.

However, after about 15 minutes, one Md Abdul Kadir, who is an aspiring candidate and from the same locality descended among with eight other people and demanded to know why the visit of the MLA was being entertained despite knowing that he (Kadir) is going to contest in the General elections.

Further, Kadir threatened the family members by saying that he could eliminate all of them easily after spending around Rs 50,000 and in case they sought police help, he could send them (police personnel) back after stripping of their uniforms, recalled Arif, who is a Lambu in the DC Office, Thoubal.

To the threat, Arif pointed out that the MLA had visited not just his house, but also other houses in the locality and it was his moral obligation to offer tea to a visiting guest.

But before he could complete his sentence, Kadir starting beating him by punching on his neck and stomach.

While he was lying prostrated on the ground, the other people who came along with Kadir also joined in the assault, Arif informed, adding that his aged mother Ibemcha and one of his sons were also beaten up Kadir and his henchmen.

Their lives could be saved from the assailants only when the neighbouring people rushed in and intervened, Arif said, adding that himself and his mother have to get treatment from Shija Hospital for the grievous injuries sustained in the assault.

Informing that Abdul Kadir is an aspiring candidate who has already started campaigning for the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly, Arif identified the other assailants who came along with Kadir as Md Sukur (30), Md Iboton (42), Md Amirhamza (46), Md Nazimuddin (46), Md Jahiya (27), Md Haji Hassan (48) and Tulabi Bibi (20), daughter of Kadir.

In connection with the incident of assault, Arif and his mother have filed a complaint with Yairipok Police Station which has subsequently taken up a case under section 326/447/34 IPC that relates to causing grievous injuries with dangerous weapons and criminal trespass.

However, the action of the police to the case is regrettable, human rights defender W Joykumar has observed.

To ensure such incidents are not repeated, the police should promptly arrest and punish all the accused persons, he demanded.

Comment