Heirok JAC threatens boycott of MLA
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 10 2013 : Insisting that Heirok AC MLA and Education Minister M Okendro intervene immediately and initiate punitive action against Heirok police station personnel who alleged thrashed some locals, JAC Against Mass Atrocities by Heirok Police has threatened to boycott the Heirok representative in case the issue is not accorded importance.

briefing mediapersons at Manipur Press Club today, JAC secretary Laishram Mandir contended that the locals along with members of Heirok Eastern Musical Association & Party were returning home from a Thabal Chongba event on April 10 night when some Heirok police personnel in civies started to thrash them without any explanation.

Recounting that the police personnel stopped the locals near Heirok Gate on the Wangjing Keisham leikai side and isolating people of Heirok and Wangjing asked the latter to leave, Mandir quoted the police personnel as insisting that 'tonight is the turn for the heirok residents to be at the receiving end' .

Not caring to even question the citizens, the police personnel started to rain blows and cane the people with many suffering fracture of the limbs and head injuries, said the secretary and informed that the perpetrators used their service rifle butts.

Ironically, the police personnel reportedly took the injured persons to a local doctor's residence where first aid was given and threatened the locals to remain silent failing which they would be shot dead.

Unwilling to tolerate such atrocities the locals on April 16 lodged formal complaints to the Deputy CM, M Okendro and SP (Thoubal) for disciplinary action against the rogue police personnel resulting in the local MLA assuring that a 'definite solution' would be brought about within April 24, said the secretary who also regretted that inspite of the Minister's assurance no positive action is being taken till date.

With a second complaint on April 30 addressed to the Chief Minister and Deputy CM to pull up the guilty police personnel also failing to evoke any positive response despite assurances that Minister Okendro and SP (Thoubal) will look into the matter the heirok public are compelled to question commitment and integrity of the local MLA, Mandir expressed.

Opining that inaction against the guilty police personnel is akin to giving a free hand to the men in uniform to thrash the locals anytime, anywhere, he also insisted that there is no need for the police station to remain in Heirok if the security personnel commit atrocities rather than protect them.

Setting a five-day deadline for the local MLA to act, he asserted that the JAC would soon announce further course of agitation including boycott of the Education Minister if appropriate action is not initiated at the earliest.

Comment