ATCF slams Govt over the Gwaltabi contretemps
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 02 2015 :
All Tribal Chiefs' Forum (ATCF) Manipur on Saturday slammed Government of Manipur for its inaction towards the contretemps which took place on April 30 between strike supporters and the villagers of the Gwaltabi Village.
Speaking to the media persons in Imphal on Saturday, ATCF President Tongpu said that the Government has to shoulder the sole responsibility for the untoward incident and demanded adequate compensation to the victimized families.
Tongpu said that the ATCF was very unhappy over the incident and appealed to the people not to spread tendentious news with a communal slant to the public.
ATCF claimed that the incident was triggered when the strike supporters stopped the vehicles along the Molneijang village.
Some individuals appealed to the strike supporters not to stop the vehicles movements in the valley.
Instead they should do it in the hill areas.
It was alleged that they had attempted to ply the vehicles including passenger buses in the affected areas during the strike.
The strike supporters smashed glasses of passenger vehicles.
The striker supporters were attacked by intercepting their vehicles on the way when they were returning home after the conclusion of the strike.
They also damaged their vehicles and beat them up.
One activist identified as MH Ramvan son of MH Ningham of Thoyee village was seriously injured in his head and Police had taken him to RIMS hospital.
The Police also rescued eight other activists from the frenzied villagers.
They were identified as MH Yingreiso; M Phaningkhi; Z Ngachonring; S Wunganai; MH Chingreingam; NS Ramphangam; MA Shimreingam and P Aworshim.
Meanwhile, a rumour was spread to the effect that the strike supporters have been attacked by the Gwaltabi villagers and the mob raided and attacked the Gwaltabi village.
It may be mentioned that ATCF called 24 hour general strike in the hills demanding full payment of funds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNRGES) from April 29 to April 30 .
Over 200 persons reportedly came and vandalized the Gwaltabi village.
Meanwhile, the district magistrate has clamped prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC on the Gwaltabi and Thowee villages with immediate effect.
The step was taken up in view of the tense situation.
Assembly of five or more persons and carrying of lethal weapons are not permitted.
Police and paramilitary forces are alerted to cope with any situation.