Imphal, July 24: Cracking its whip, the State police has reportedly filed a criminal case against the president of MEELAL, Ng Yumjao in connection with the publication of threatening statements in the State dailies on July 21 which set July 25 as the deadline for all vehicles to carry the Meitei Mayek on their number plates.

Disclosing this to The Sangai Express a well placed source today said that a case has been registered against the MEELAL leader with the Porompat police station under FIR number 153 (7) 07 under Sections 120-B/153-A/341/506 IPC read with 9 Punjab Security Act and 192/198 of MV Act.

Since Yumjao is a Government employee working as Field Assistant in the Commerce and Industries Department, the same has been conveyed to the Director of the Department by the police, said the source further.

In its message to the Director, the police said that the announcement of MEELAL that nine centres have been opened to inscribe Meitei Mayek on vehicle number plates violates Sections 39/41 (6) of the MV Act.

The office bearers are forcibly stopping all vehicles without any authority and restraining the public in general by threatening them with dire consequences, said the source quoting the message sent to the Director of Commerce and Industries.

The activities of MEELAL will not only undermine public order but also promote enmity between different groups of community, as compelling an individual of other community to write Meitei Mayek on their number plates will cause communal tension.

The Director was urged by the police to hand over Ng Yumjao to the OC of Porompat police station at the earliest.

A number of MEELAL activists have already been rounded up by the police on different charges and the State Government had stated that since the Mayek is yet to be included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India, displaying it on number plates violates certain provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act.

At the moment though the State Government has already recognised the Mayek in its gazette.

Following the intense agitation launched by MEELAL, the Mayek was introduced in the educational institutions.

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