TSA refutes AR claim, comes out strongly against assault of student leader
Source: The Sangai Express

Chandel, November 20 2018: Thadou Students' Association (TSA) Chandel, & Tengnoupal branch today strongly condemned alleged high-handedness of the 12 Assam Rifles personnel "involved in the assault of Michael Lamjathang Haokip, secretary general TSA GHQ at Sita Lamkhai, Tengnoupal while returning from Moreh to Imphal on November 12" .

"This kind of unruly and violent behaviour is least expected from Government security personnel who are supposedly trained to provide safety and security to civilians and work with people with a sense of duty of care and respect and high level of discipline and professionalism," said TSA Chandel & Tengnoupal branch in a statement issued by its general secretary Lian Haokip.

"The irresponsible act of the 12 AR posted at Tengnoupal is against human rights and freedom and runs sharply contrary to the motto of Assam Rifles- Friends of the Hill People," it said.

Alleging that this was not the first time such incidents occurred TSA alleged that the AR personnel posted at Khudengthabi check post had 'assaulted' former president of KSO Chandel, Doumang Haokip in the past.

Assam Rifles harasses civilians and blocks highway at their whims and fancies, TSA alleged.

It also refutes a media statement of IGAR South published in various newspapers, and alleged that the media statement of the AR are false and baseless.

"While we were expecting to see authorities concerned to resolve the matter in a respectful, apologetic and acceptable manner, the media statement of IGAR South that appeared in various newspapers on November 20 making baseless and false claims against the victim is most unfortunate and hurtful to the sentiments of the people," TSA said.

Assam Rifles had clarified that on November 12 at around 4.30 pm, Haokip reached the vehicle check post in his vehicle and without giving due respect and empathizing with the plight of the locals and tourists waiting for their turns to get checked, jumped the checking line, ignoring the discomfort being caused to senior citizens, ladies and children waiting in queue.

He argued with the Assam Rifles soldiers on duty to give him priority, as he is the secretary of TSA, AR claimed.

Saying that the 'IGAR South" may have got their reports wrong', TSA alleged that the statement was an attempt to 'cover up the wrongdoings of its personnel who acted against all norms and rules'.

The incident of the alleged assault on the student leader by the AR personnel and subsequent denial of the truth and justice to the victim has greatly damaged the reputation of the entire Assam Rifles.

The trust of the people on Assam Rifles and their hard earned relationship with hill people has been greatly jeopardised, it said.

TSA also condemned the State police regarding the incident.

"The failure of the State police to take due action in the matter also speaks of their utter disregard for the law which they are employed to enforce in public interest," said TSA.

It appealed the Assam Rifles and Union Home Ministry to own up responsibility for the alleged incident in order to resolve the matter and take up appropriate and effective measures to prevent recurrence of such incident in future.

The State police should also take up necessary actions according to the law of the land without any further delay, said TSA.

"TSA will be forced to launch intense agitation until justice is delivered," it said.

The statement also put light on the alleged land grabbing issue at Chikim Veng.

TSA had alleged that one officer of the Assam Rifles has a house under construction at the village in Moreh.

TSA Jiribam and Tamenglong branch also condemned the AR for the alleged incident.

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