Imphal, August 06 2009: Going on the offensive against Chief Minister O Ibobi, for 'letting loose a reign of terror,' the proscribed RPF today stated that the indiscriminate firing by police commandos on July 23 at BT Road, in which three persons, including Rabina and her unborn 5 month old child and Ch Sanjit were killed, and five others were injured, is an extension of the pogrom unleashed by the Government.

In a statement issued to the press today, the outfit asserted that the July 23 incident is a clear indication that there is no rule of law and whatever Ibobi decrees is the law.

It is because of such a culture, that sons have been snatched from their mothers to be killed later while many women have been widowed.

The BT Road incident is an example of 'State sponsored terror,' alleged the outfit.

Instead of mustering the moral courage to admit to their fault, the Chief Minister delivered a cooked up story, that it was Sanjit who opened indiscriminate firing and killed the pregnant woman, Rabina and her unborn child and wounded five others, and that he was killed in an encounter, on the floor of the Assembly, said RPF.

The version of the Chief Minister and the police commandos was negated by eye witnesses and those who were at BT Road at the time of the incident.

Later Tehelka came out with the damning photo sequence that showed Sanjit being frisked, taken and then pushed inside a pharmacy by the police commandos, said RPF.

Sanjit was later killed inside the pharmacy by the police commandos and the lie that he was killed in an encounter was issued.

When the people rose in protest after the truth came out, Chief Minister O Ibobi, instead of listening or responding to the people, went to Delhi, to seek the blessings of his masters to continue with the killing spree, alleged RPF.

After Manipur merged with India, it has seen many puppet State Governments, but none as bad as the one led by Ibobi, said the outfit.

In fact the Ibobi Government is the worst, said RPF and added that not only has corruption been so high but it has also been turned into a civilian killing regime.

Just to recruit a Jamadar or an SI, the asking rate of bribe money is Rs 10/20 lakhs, alleged RPF and added that once recruited, the Jamadar or the SI is pre-occupied with paying off the money which they had borrowed to pay the bribe.

This leads to such cops to loot, steal, extort money in the name of militants and covet the properties and assets of others.

Since Ibobi had, in the first place taken the bribes from them, they are given a free run to loot and steal, alleged RPF and added that his only concern is saving his chair.

What Ibobi and his MLAs should not forget is that just as the people still remember the heroic sacrifices of the martyrs at Khongjom, he and his men will be remembered as blots in the history of the land.

Their names and memories will be spiteful.

On the other hand, in a democracy, the Parliament or the Assembly is sacrosanct.

It was on the floor of such a sacred place, that Ibobi delivered a concocted story on July 23 which was lapped up by all the 59 MLAs, including those who were absent, said RPF.

Not only this the MLAs also fell in line with the undemocratic utterances of the Chief Minister when he said that there was 'no option but to kill them (UGs).' The political agenda of these MLAs is baffling, it said.

Have the MLAs forgotten that by misleading the House, they are misleading the over 24 lakh people of Manipur ?, countered the outfit.

It also questioned whether such utterances did not infringe upon the privilege of all the MLAs.

Even if a final decision is to be taken pending an inquiry, with regard to the July 23 incident, what were the MLAs doing when the Chief Minister uttered such undemocratic words as 'no option but to kill them' on the floor of the Assembly on July 23, asked RPF.

Such a statement is ample proof that the State Government endorses the killing of civilians.

In the light of this, it will not be exaggerating things to say, that the MLAs are nothing less than stooges of the Chief Minister, alleged the outfit.

If the MLA had any conscience then they should have demanded that the statement of the Chief Minister be deleted from the proceedings of the House.

The world is today coming round to the idea that awarding capital punishment on anyone has no place in a civilised world.

In such a situation, making such a statement, which endorses the State to indulge in extra-judicial killings is barbaric.

Taking a dig at the MLAs, the outfit said that it was highly unfortunate that these MLAs, who claim that they well conversant in Parliamentary practices, did not protest when the Chief Minister made such an unparliamentary statement.

This also shows that the MLAs have been bought over by the RPF, it alleged.

Laws all over the world, including the Courts in India hold the view that all are innocent until proven guilty, said the RPF.

Despite this universal practice, the Chief Minister has demonstrated time and again that he does not respect the Court.

Despite the huge cry and uproar that police commandos have been eliminating innocent civilians, the Chief Minister has till date, not done anything to rein them in, said RPF.

On the other hand, the Chief Minister while announcing that six police commandos have been suspended, said that Sanjit, who had retired from the PLA, was a pucca PLA cadre.

He also disowned the 'no option but to kill' statement on the floor of the House.

In the face of such distortion of the truth, it is unlikely the media persons would accept it meekly.

Instead of punishing the guilty police commandos, the CM in consultation with the DGP was ready to award them gallantry awards on August 15 .

But this plan has been foiled, said RPF.

The Opposition MLAs too should demand the resignation of the Chief Minister for misleading the House, it said.

If the Chief Minister had any respect for the sentiments of the people, then he should voluntarily step down on moral ground, said RPF and added that the sufferings of the people will come an end, only when Manipur regains her sovereignty.

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