Molotov cocktails lobbed : AMBA
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 28 2023:
Molotov cocktails were hurled at the Cheirap Court Complex by unknown miscreants yesterday night said All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA).
Speaking to media persons at the office of the AMBA at Cheirap Court Complex today, the association's president, P Tomcha Meetei said unknown persons carried out the attack at midnight yesterday with the intention to burn the Court complex.
AMBA strongly condemns the attack.
Such actions would only benefit those who wish to disintegrate Manipur, Tomcha said.
He said the unknown miscreants hurled 4-5 molotov cocktails inside the Court complex.
The fire from the petrol bomb burnt some portion of a Canteen, but it was doused by the people in time.
The Cheirap Court houses important legal documents of Manipur.
It has documents from the time when Manipur was an independent State before the arrival of the British, he said.
The Cheirap Court and DC offices have land records.
If these institutions are targeted and burnt, all these valuable records will be lost.
It will be the loss of the people only, he added.
"If DC offices and Cheirap Court are burnt, from where will people get their land records and other important legal documents?" He asked.
Some sections want these records gone and burnt.
Burning these institutions will only help them, Tomcha said, appealing to the people to help protect and preserve the important documents and records.
Further, there will be scores of cases amid the present crisis, and Cheirap Court will be the place for the people and aggrieved to get relief.
Burning the Court will be detrimental to the welfare of the people, Tomcha said.
Moreover, AMBA and the High Court Bar Association are aiding the victims and people in many of the cases including the murder of two missing students, he added.
While condemning the excessive use of force by security forces on student protesters, he said authorities concerned should file FIR against security personnel involved and try them under the Juvenile Justice Act.
While taking up measures to refrain the security personnel from using excessive force against unarmed student protesters, the Government should rearrange the security apparatus by appointing officers who are good in crisis management, he said.
He reiterated that Cheirap Court and DC offices shouldn't be the targets of the people's movement.
Miscreants should never be allowed to derail the public movement, he said.