Cong demands probe into Ukhrul incident
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 04 2024:
While questioning whether the 20 weapons stolen from Ukhrul police station during the land dispute incident between Hunpung and Hunphun villages were, in reality, deliberately handed over by the state government, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has demanded an inquiry into the incident.
In a press meet held at Congress Bhawan here on Friday, MPCC president K Meghachandra expressed deepest condolences over the death of four people in the Hunpung-Hunphun incident.
Wondering how the Ukhrul PS could "give away" sophisticated weapons to the public, he further questioned why the government was unable to take control of the situation despite having information of impending dispute prior to October 2 .
He continued that the district administration and the home department have failed terribly.
The central para military forces were not equipped with requisite weapons, raising questions on the existence of the government.
It is not the first for small incidents to blow and become huge incidents.
At present, the number of casualties in Ukhrul Hospital is continuing to increase, he claimed.
Meghachanda further asked if there is any place in Manipur which has not witnessed any violence.
Police stations no longer have any weapons, let alone the government.
Manipur Congress president K Meghachandra on Friday demanded an inquiry into the Ukhrul violence which led to the looting of arms from a police station and accused the Manipur government of being suppliers of arms to the people.
A mob stormed a police station in Ukhrul town on Wednesday and looted arms during a clash between two groups in which four persons were killed and 20 others injured in a gunfight over cleaning a disputed land in the town as part of 'Swachhata Abhiyan'.
Meghachandra asked "why government weapons looted from police stations whenever violence breaks out.
We are not going to call it looting but we are calling it as supplying of arms".
He alleged that the district administration and home department failed to quell the violence in time.
Meghachandra also demanded an inquiry to find out who was responsible for the outbreak of violence in Ukhrul.
He then appealed to the government to take control of the situation in Ukhrul and restore peace in the district, while appreciating all sections who are working for the same.
Maintaining that the incident happened due to inaction by the government, he stressed the need for conducting an inquiry to ascertain whether it was due to failure of intelligence or the Home Department, apart from ascertaining how the 20 weapons were looted.
AICC secretary, Manipur in-charge Christopher Tilak, who also attended the press meet, recounted that during his visit to the state last month, discussion were held on the prevailing crisis in Manipur.
Upon his return to the state on Thursday, he met the state party leaders.
The current manmade crisis in Manipur is not only affecting the economy but also education and all the other sectors, when it had barely recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The double-engine BJP government has failed to live up to its promises, while it is more focus in doing politics.
The people s dissatisfaction was shown clearly in the recent Lok Sabha election, he added.
Tilak said, "The economy of the state is at a complete standstill because of the violence that started last year.
The future of youth is a big question mark.
Agriculture which is the main source of employment has fallen into deep crisis and so is the health and financial situation".
He continued that the party had been urging the centre to restore peace in the state and continuously taking up the matter in the parliament.
The press meet was also attended by CLP leader O Ibobi, MPCC ex-president N Loken, former ministers Gaikhangam, AK Mirabai and Kh Ratanku-mar, and other party leaders.
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