Imphal: Chief minister Nongthombam Biren has come out strongly against recent unwanted incidents in violence-hit Manipur and announced two separate magistrate inquiries into mob violence in Churachandpur after suspension of a police constable and looting of arms case at the 5th IRB camp, Chingarel and Manipur Police Training Centre in Pangei, Imphal East district. The chief minister has also declared that actions will be taken against Kuki frontal organisation, ITLF for serving ultimatums to government officials and one Kuki MLA for his hate campaign on social media.
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Briefing the media at the chief minister’s secretariat in Imphal on Saturday evening, N Biren termed it unfortunate over the loss of lives during agitation in Churachandpur and mob incident at Manipur Police Training College in Pangei. N Biren said the district SP has every right to suspend his subordinates on disciplinary grounds, as in this case, the suspension order came after the head constable’s videos and photos with armed miscreants went viral on social media. He condemned that during the agitation in Churachandpur district, the national flag was dishonoured, government offices, documents and properties were ransacked, and vehicles used by security forces were torched. The chief minister also questioned if there was any hidden agenda behind burning down government documents at the Churachandpur Minisecretariat. N Biren said a magistral enquiry will be initiated against the ransacking and torching of DC Office and SP office, as there is suspicion of a hidden agenda behind the burning down and destroying of government documents. Stating that it is the primary duty of the government to protect the lives of citizens and public properties he said a magistral inquiry will be initiated into the incidents and appropriate steps will be taken.
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Regarding the 24 hour ultimatum served to Churachandpur SP and DC to revoke the suspension of the constable and leave Churachandpur within 24 hours by ITLF, chief minister N. Biren said action was taken against ITLF for serving such an ultimatum to government officials. He also mentioned that an FIR has already been lodged against one Bambam Houzel for giving life threats on social media to Churachandpur SP. Though not disclosing the name, N. Biren said action will be taken against one Kuki MLA who posted on social media about the suspension order and incited communal hatred.
It may be mentioned that BJP MLA from Saikot Constituency Paolianlal Haokip on the evening of mob violence in Churachandpur posted on his personal X account at 8.27PM “They gave away state security arms and ammunition, none suspended: they lead mobs to burn down Kuki colonies in Imphal, no action. A police personnel appeared in a viral video of Kuki volunteers and he got suspended? Is this a just state? Whoever supports an unjust state…”
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PWD minister Konthoujam Govinda had strongly reacted to MLA Paolianlal’s tweet and had called him a pseudo politician who recently received electoral rights in Manipur in the year 2021 and termed his statement as a hate campaign to promote himself among his community.
The chief minister also made it clear that the Manipur government has not declared any buffer zones and there is no buffer zone in the state, though some places may be declared sensitive areas. He also said security forces can carry out combing and search operations in any places it deemed necessary in order to maintain law and order in the state.
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Meanwhile, ITLF issued a press release on Saturday stating that “24 hours have passed since ITLF have given an ultimatum to cancel the suspension order of the head constable Siamlalpaul and the replacement of Superintendent of Police, Shivanand Surve and the deputy commissioner S. Dharun Kumar. So far, no cancellation and replacement has been done. As stated, all state government offices in the Lamka district will be closed from Monday 19th February 2024 until further notice. All state government employees from the Lamka district should refrain from going to the office. If anyone is found attending the office, it will be their own responsibility if any untoward incident happened to them. There will be no burial of the two martyrs from the Wall of Remembrance Massacre until an amicable agreement is arrived.”
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