Ex-gratia paid to kins of 8 slain cops
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 01 2024:
Chief Minister N Biren who is in charge of Home has said that the Government has already given ex-gratia to the families of at least eight Manipur police personnel killed in the course of the violence under the State Ex-Gratia Scheme while process is underway to provide the same to the family of another slain personnel.
The Chief Minister went on to state that the Government has been proceeding to provide compensation to the police personnel injured in violence and to grant appointment on compassionate grounds to the deserving next of kin of the slain police personnel.
N Biren made the statement while responding to a query raised by Opposition MLA K Ranjit on the third day of the ongoing State Assembly session.
On the floor of the House, the Chief Minister continued that nine police personnel were killed in the line of duty while 94 others got injured amid the strife in Manipur.
He said that three Central security personnel also died in the course of violence while 69 others were injured.
After listening to the Chief Minister's responses, Congress MLA K Ranjit sought replies on how the Central security forces were killed, the figure of people arrested in connection with the attacks on security forces so far and on the allegation that some State police personnel posted in hill districts were involved in attacking Meitei villages too.
To the supplementary questions, the Chief Minister responded that the three Central security personnel were killed in firing but their particulars were not disclosed as the matter is confidential.
The Leader of the House continued that the State Government has deepest regard for every security personnel who laid down their lives whilst on duty to save the civilians and protect the integrity of the State and the Nation at large.
He went on to state that the State Government has been extending all possible assistance to the families of slain security personnel as well as those who got injured in the most humane way.
About the allegation of some State police taking part in attacking Meetei villages, the Chief Minister said that the Government doesn't have any official report.
K Ranjit, on the other hand, said that the death of a Sub Inspector Onkhomang Haokip in the bunker of a Kuki militant group at Phubala Maning in a retaliatory firing by village volunteers on September 22, 2023 was published by major media houses of the State.
Informing the House about the protests staged to not provide any ex-gratia to the family of the police officer by different organisations and the issuance of a notification by the State Government to provide Rs 10 lakh on February 9 to his (Onkhomang) family, K Ranjit asked if it would be wrong to assume that the Government wants the violence to linger on as they provided ex-gratia to the family of the police officer instead of taking up a criminal case against him.
To the query, N Biren said that if there is any witness of State police taking part in attacking Meetei villages while appealing to the members of the House to refrain from making statements which can be seen as otherwise.
He also asked if there is any evidence of Onkhomang Haokip firing towards Meetei villages as claimed.
The Chief Minister said that the ex-gratia was given to Onkhomang Haokip as he was a Government employee and died in the line of duty as per an official report.
He also said that investigation has already begun in connection with the incident.
The Chief Minister asked his fellow House member K Ranjit to exercise restraint before throwing wild allegations to the Government as the issue in Manipur is sensitive.
N Biren also recounted how Sugnu and its adjoining areas were attacked despite the formation of a peace committee.
To the response of the leader of the House, K Ranjit said that the matter seems to have gone in another direction and sought the approval of the Speaker to list the topic for a 30 minute discussion.
K Ranjit clarified that he raised the topic as SI Onkhomang Haokip died in the firefight with volunteers guarding Meetei villages as per various news reports.
The Congress MLA went on to ask whether the Government paid any attention when he requested four companies be sent to Sugnu area.
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