Posers raised over ex-gratia to SI's family
Source: Chronicle News Service
Thoubal, February 12 2024:
Periphery Protection Force (PPF), Heirok has questioned decision of the government to grant ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the family of sub-inspector (SI) Onkhomang Haokip, alleging that he aided Kuki-Zo narco-terrorists scheming disintegration of Manipur.
According to PPF's Roshan Thounaojam, despite being part of the state force, SI Onkhomang took side with the Kuki-Zo narco-terrorists in attacking a Meetei village and was killed in the ensuing gunfight at Chingphei, located between Moirang and Churachandpur on September 13 last year.
As such, it is irrational for state government to announce an ex-gratia for the next of kin of the SI, as he had worked against the law and the government itself, it stated.
PPF further enquired how the government made the decision contrary to assertion to take strict action against narco-terrorists.
"Is the ex-gratia awarded for being killed on duty? If SI Onkhomang was killed in the line of duty, then how many personnel are in Manipur police who are adamant to destroy the integrity of Manipur and not afraid to attack the government? If he was off duty, why is the ex-gratia being given? The government's act of being at odds with Kuki-Zo narco-terrorists in public but not so when it comes to work, has raised questions of unholy nexus between narco-terrorists and the state government," it remarked.
The Force continued that the government's action is an example of its intention to further intensify the conflict between the two communities.
As such, the government should withdraw its decision at the earliest, failing which various forms of agitations will be launched, it cautioned.
Apunba Club Heirok advisor L Jk Meitei said that while both the state forces and the village volunteers are putting their lives on the line to defend the integrity of Manipur, some state forces turn against their uniform and work with Kuki-Zo narco-terrorists to disintegrate Manipur.
Thus, granting ex-gratia to one such SI Onkhomang Haokip, who was killed in retaliatory fire during an attack on a Meetei village is unreasonable.
The government's act of granting ex-gratia both to those who died defending the integrity of the state and those killed trying to disintegrate the state seems very much like an ill-intention plan to prolong the conflict, he observed.