Imphal, February 24 2009: Asserting that the act of killing Kasom Khullen SDO Dr Th Kishan and his two subordinate staff by NSCN (IM) in violation of the ceasefire ground rule is a consequence of the lack of far sightedness of the Government of India, MPP president Dr L Chandramani has called for direct intervention of the Union Home Minister in ensuring handing over the cadres of the Naga rebel outfit involved in the killing to the State Government for dispensing justice.

On the other hand, party MLA O Joy, while maintaining that the crime had been committed intentionally to incite communal feeling, has lamented the ongoing dialogue for restoration of peace in Nagaland has set fire in Manipur.

Addressing a press conference at the party office here today, Dr Chandramani observed that the NSCN (IM) has become bold enough to kill the three State Government employees in complete defiance of the ceasefire ground rules as a consequence of the negligence and lack of far sightedness of the Government of India while initiating peace talks with the Naga rebel group.

From the conduct of the Government of India, it appears that it would sideline the importance of judiciary, he said and demanded the culprits should be punished befittingly.

Stating that MPP neither supports nor opposes any UG group, Dr Chandramani observed that the State Government should seek the direct intervention of the Union Home Minister in ensuring handing over the cadres of the NSCN (IM) involved in the brutal killing so as to initiate necessary legal proceeding against them.

Pointing out that the armed cadres of NSCN (IM) should put up in their designated camps even if the peace talks is in force for the last 11 years now, Dr Chandramani wondered what the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell at Dimapur has been doing to the violation of the ground rules by armed cadres who are not putting up in the designated camps and indulging in various criminal activities like abduction of innocent persons for ransom and causing disturbance to the movement of vehicles bringing in essential commodities through the National Highways.

Why the Govt of India has not taken serious note of the anti-people activities of the Naga rebel outfit and allowing it to set up designated camps on the soil of Manipur even if the ceasefire is not applicable here, the MPP president questioned.

Taking serious note of the activities of the NSCN (IM) as a challenge to the territorial integrity of Manipur, the Chief Minister should convene a meeting of the all political parties to discuss the matter thoroughly, Dr Chandramani demanded.

Legislature Wing of the party MLA O Joy demanded to know why the NSCN (IM) has singled out only three employees out of the six abducted for being killed.

So there is no reason why it should not be concluded that the cold blooded killing was communal and intentional, he added.

The NSCN (IM) has been carrying out its criminal activities beyond the jurisdiction of the ceasefire agreement and there has been no let up to collection of taxes from the people along the National Highways in an unauthorised manner and transportation of the developmental materials are being hampered all in the name of peace talks, Joy said.

If an underground outfit is involved communal activities, there should be no reason why such outfits should not declared as terrorist group, Joy contended.

Stating that it unbecoming of an underground outfit which is undergoing peace talks to indulges in killing and extortion activities, Joy also drew the attention of the State Govt to look into the matter.

Party MLA RK Anand while maintaining that the Govt of India as well as the Government of Manipur should think over the matter and review the functioning of the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell, said NSCN (IM) is today nothing more that a group of gangsters.

So it would be better to abolish the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell.

The State Govt should also not remain spineless but performs its duties responsibly, he said, adding that the charges being levelled against late Dr Kishan by NSCN (IM) is nothing but a ploy to wash it hands off from owing upto the responsibility of killing of three Government employees.

MLA Dr Ng Bijoy who was also present at the occasion demanded to know why collection of 'taxes'by the UG group in violation of the ceasefire ground rules is not being stopped.

It is right time for the CM to translate his assurance of awarding befitting punishment to the killers of Dr Kishan and his two staff, Bijoy noted.

Comment