Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Aug 26:
All manipur PHED Workers & Employees' Association and PHED work-charged Employees' Union have strongly condemned the burning down of PHED Imphal West Division's office bulding located in Lamphel on August 24 night.
While the Dept's Workers & Employees' Association, in a release, prevail upon the Dept authorities to launch a probe and track down the culprits responsible for the criminal act, the Work-charged Employees' Union expressed that conspiracy cannot be ruled out as the arsonist(s) seem to target official documents.
The former employees' body also reminded that inspite of inquiries conducted into past incidences of setting ablaze office buildings and destruction of Govt properties the guilty ones were seldom produced or punished.
Opining that the arsonists targeting PHED property is akin to challenging the public as the particular dept is associated with essential services, the Association suggested that only a proper inquiry and stern appropriate action against the guilty might be able to minimise such condemnable acts in the future.
It also questioned where was the care-taker concerned when the incident took place, besides doubting efficiency of Fire Service personnel contending that the nearest fire station is located only about 2.5 kms away.
Describing the act as cowardly, the Work-Charged employees' Union PHED said that such criminal conduct vividly reflects anti-social attitude of the perpretators as the insane act had also destroyed important documents.
Under the circumstances Manipur State is currently passing through, there is no room for such a destructive act as burning down an important Govt establishment like the PHED would have negative impact on the society, added the Union.
The body also demanded that State authorities act accordingly in punishing the guilty stringently.