Cong decries FIR against MPCC president, secretary
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kakching, February 01 2023: District Congress Committee (DCC), Kakching and Block Congress Committee (BCC), Kakching have strongly opposed the case registered against Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president MLA Keisham Meghachandra and secretary Kshetrimayum Kennedy for visiting the office of SP Kakching in connection with arrest of five CDO personnel along with huge consignment of contraband drugs on January 16.Addressing a press meet at the DCC/BCC Kakching office, Kakching Keithel here on Wednesday, Kennedy said that he came across the report of drug seizure from a CDO team at Pallel on local TV channel and social media on January 16 around 3 pm.

MPCC president enquired him if the report was true.

After confirmation, the MPCC president, who was in a nearby area, asked to join him during the visit to the SP's office to commend for the seizure, Kennedy recalled, adding that consequently, he along with MLA Meghachandra, BCC Kakching president Nongmaithem Ashok & general secretary Leishangthem Brojen went and spoke with SP (Kakching) Shrey Vats.

During the meeting, the MPCC president commended the SP and district police for their sincere and courageous work.

The MPCC president as well as he also urged the SP to investigate the case thoroughly to trace the owner of the drugs stating that arrest of drug lords is rare in the state despite numerous seizures of drugs and arrest of peddlers, and tracing the owner will also be an achievement of the district police.

However, to their surprise, Kakching police registered FIR against them on charge of criminal trespassing and obstruction in public servants carrying out their duties.

To Congress, visiting the SP's office and commending their achievement as leaders of the main opposition party is a democratic right and responsibility, he contended.

Kennedy then enquired how commending a police officer for his selfless duty and assuring support in bringing a logical end to the war on drugs mission amounts to an offence under CrPC or IPC.

The SP can decide whether their act on that day amounts to an offence or not, he said and urged the SP to reconsider the situation and do the needful.

He also claimed that the Congress leaders did not put any pressure on the SP or obstructed his duty under any circumstances.

There was no restriction in entering the SP's office on that particular day or any other day.

Besides, they went to the SP's office after the arrested CDO personnel and seized drugs have been handed over to Kakching PS.

The SP's office was not a crime scene and as such, there is no question of disturbing or obstructing duty of the police.

Congress is rather surprised to learn about the FIR and the people of the state would also have the same feeling, he added.

The most disturbing remark came from the chief minister, who during a press briefing, targeted the Congress president by stating that he (Meghachandra) will be held responsible if there is any obstruction in the investigation or if the investigation does not bear fruits.

Questioning the remark of the CM, he urged the public whether the MPCC president's visit to the SP's office amounts to obstruction of duty or not.

He also enquired if there is any law restricting an elected public representative from entering the office of SP under the democratic setup of the country.

He also enquired if demanding the government to find out the owner of the drugs and their destination amounts to criminal offence and said that they do not care if they go to jail for raising such appeal.

Clarifying about the demand raised by MPCC, Kennedy said that the MPCC president recalled how the numerous cases of drug seizure in the state failed to lead to the true owner of the drugs and simply demanded the government to transfer the case to CBI to trace the root of the case.

Congress has no problem if the state government can trace the drug lord, but the party simply asked for proper investigation of all the drug related cases to root out the menace of drugs from the state since seizure of drugs and arrest of transporters can never resolve the issue.

Congress strongly believes that sincere motive and right approach from the leaders in power could bring a solution to the drug issue, he said.

DCC president A Rahaman Chesaba, BCC president Nongmaithem Ashok, general secretary Leishangthem Brojen and other party members also attended the press meet.

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