Imphal, July 15 2009: State chief Minister Okram Ibobi today justified the arrest of five students and their detention under the National Security Act (NSA).

"There are enough reasons for arresting them," the Chief Minister said in the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Replying to various questions raised by the legislators during the discussion of the demands on Police, Vigilance, Jail, Home Guard and Fire Protection and Control, Chief Minister Ibobi said, there are good enough reasons for arresting a few students while so many students are not.

The people will eventually come to know the reasons of their arrest, the leader of the House said and made an appeal not to support the bandh, general strike and economic blockade called by various civil society organisations.

The goverment will not remain as a silent observer in these bandhs, general strikes or economic blockade, the Chief Minister assured the House.

He further expressed his disbelief that such a large number of students' bodies that exist in Manipur would be found anywhere else in the world.

What are their objectives, asked Ibobi and pointedout that none of these students' bodies is registered.

Therefore, the government has begun discussing seriously on what steps could be taken against them.

The government doesn''t like to punish any one, but if necessary, will give punishment, the Chief Minister said adding that the students are playing authority in Manipur.

Regarding the bandh, economic blockade, etc.

called against the proposed deployment of IRB and police commandos in the hills, the Chief Minister informed the House that the para military forces and the Army being used in the state are like being borrowed and used by the state government.

He said, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had already informed the state government to strengthen the state forces and that the para military forces and the Army would be withdrawn.

Therefore, it is necessary to strenthen the state forces.

State forces must be deployed in the hills so that the para military forces could be withdrawn, the Chief Minister said and added that there is no change in the government's stand.

He asked, where the triple murder of Dr Kishan and his two staff took place and how will the government remain as a silent spectator on the murder of Prof Islamuddin of MU.

The IRB and Police Commandos are going to be deployed at selected places in the hills so that such unwanted incidents do not recur, he said.

Regarding the Fire Service, the Chief Minister said, plans are afoot to convert the Fire Service Department into the Department of Relief and Disaster Management.

This department will cover the Home Guard Civil Defence too.

For this, a high powered committee has already been formed.

The report submitted by this committee will be placed before the State Cabinet and decision will be taken accordingly, he said.

Regarding the Home Guards, the Chief Minister told the House that previously, the exact number of Home Guard personnel was not known, but today, the details are computerised so that no confusion will arise in future.

Even knowing that a number of Home Guard personnel had retired, the number of Home Guard Personnel remained the same at 2,346, he said and revealed in the House that on enquiry, it has been found out that 176 personnel had been appointed secretly.

The accused CO had been placed under suspension and a case is pending against him.

Referring to jail, the Chief Minister told the Members that steps have been taken to prevent hatching criminal plots in the Sajiwa Central Jail.

Two MPS officers, jailors N Biren and H Babu, warden Ruhidas, Philops Naga and other 43 staff have been transferred.

Now 130 armed policemen are posted in the jail and keeping a close vigil on the inmates.

The CRPF are guarding the jail from outside, he informed.

The Chief Minister further said that Th Nando, accused in the Krishnadas murder case, is also accused of taking part in the abduction and murder of Lungnila Elizabeth.

He is also one of the four criminals involved in serious crimes who are to be transferred to Tihar jail.

However, since CBI is investigating the Elizabeth murder case, he is still kept here, he said.

Moving a cut motion in the demand of Police, O Joy of MPP said, the relationship between the public and the police needs to be strengthened and made closer.

What the police are doing are worth praising.

However, they should not be let independently.

Four persons including two policemen were arrested in connection with the arrest of Megha.

Why NSA was not applied to the two police commandos, Joy asked and said errant policemen must be taught appropriate lessons.

Dr I Ibohalbi and RK Anand of MPP, I Hemochandra of Congress, Morung Makunga, etc.

participated in the discussion.

Comment