Minister's escort 'assault' Shumang Leela artiste
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 13 2016: Shumang Leela artiste Huirem Bishesh has been allegedly assaulted by security escorts of RD&PR Minister Moirangthem Okendro.

In the meantime, Minister Okendro has clarified that his security escorts did not assault Bishesh deliberately.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, Bishesh decried that he (biologically speaking) was assaulted by the security escorts at Yaiskul Chingakham Leirak when he was travelling in a car with one Khumanthem Rohit at around 10 pm yesterday even after he identified himself as a Shumang Leela artiste.

As they drove into the narrow lane, they came to face with some vehicles which were heading in the opposite direction.

As the two vehicles could not negotiate freely, both of them stopped.

But people travelling in the other vehicle shouted, "Don't you see the light? It's VIP's vehicle", Bishesh recounted.

At this, Bisheh and his companion offered to drive their vehicle in reverse gear.

However, the vehicle skidded into the road side ditch. "Even though the security escorts pulled up my car, they also unleashed a flurry of verbal assaults using offensive and vulgar words.

They also blamed me that I was drunk", he continued.

As this, Bishesh and his companion said that they were ready to go for a medical test.

However, the next moment, the duo were physically assaulted by the security escorts, according to Bishesh.

"Last night's incident turned out to be a serious setback to my preparations for the Miss International Queen contest scheduled to be held in Thailand", Bishesh said.

Manipur State Shumang Leela Council president N Purnimashi Leima condemned the incident in the strongest term.

Expressing keen desire to resolve the issue through negotiation, Purnimashi said that they (Shumang Leela artistes) would be compelled to launch agitation if their friendly gesture is not responded positively.

Manipur State Shumang Leela Council lifetime general secretary Sougrakpam Hemanta said that Bishesh is a promising artiste.

Maruploi Foundation president Maimom Ranjit questioned security forces' views of transgenders.

Notably, Maruploi Foundation is an organisation of transgenders.

Ranjit also expressed keen desire to resolve the matter through negotiation.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by Minister Okendro's PRO S Johnson said that Bishesh and his companion were fully drunk and they could not drive their vehicle in reverse gear.

It was one of the security personnel who drove their car in reverse gear.

But Bishesh and his companion said in a very disrespectful manner that they wanted to see the VIP and they even tried to open the door of the vehicle in which the Minister was sitting.

They were pushed back by the PSO and other security escorts.

Except for this wrangling, there was no incident of assault, said the PRO's press release.

It further conveyed Minister Okendro's unhappiness over the incident.

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