IMPHAL, December 30: Samuel Risom, MLA of Ukhrul Constituency, also an advisor to the All Tribal Lawyers Association Manipur has in a release questioned the withdrawal of his security cover at Lamlai police station while he was en-route to his constituency on December 28.
Saying that it was a sovereign duty to visit his native constituency to reason out with his people at any point of time during the discharge of his official duty of visiting his native place, no one can take away his freedom of movement without a valid order from a competent authority, the release said.
The State is duty bound to furnish a copy of speaking order etc if any, in respect with the withdrawal of security guards to the MLA before his departure, but the State has miserably failed, it said.
Meanwhile, in an interaction with media persons during the Dal Day observations at the Congress Bhawan, Deputy CM Gaikhangan clarified on the matter of taking off the security cover of MLA Samuel Rison from Ukhrul Constituency during his tour to Ukhrul.
The Deputy CM Gaikhangam who also holds the portfolio of Home Minister said that the request for the MLA`s tour to Ukhrul on December 28 was approved but his request was entrusted to DGP, Manipur.
Against the backdrop of the unpredictable apprehensions and disturbances caused by the public outcry protesting the Chandel incident the DGP maintained that the proposed visit by MLA Rison to his constituency was not advisable.
Following this, the Deputy CM advised the DGP to request MLA Rimson to desist from his visit to Ukhrul by writing a letter of regret.
Expecting that his visit to Ukhrul might provoke a scuffle between him and the protesters and the prevailing situation might go from bad to worse, the state government refused his visit though he complained against the refusal.
Rison persisted to entertain his request while the state government kept on desisting him saying it was risky.
He was not provided with escorts for his proposed visit. When it came to the knowledge of the state government that Rison along with his house guards was on the way to Ukhrul, the state government kept Lamlai police informed that the police personnel not below the rank of SP/DSP request Rison to stop and return to Imphal.
Gaikhangam stated that the house guards were not willing to go with Rison considering the risky circumstances surrounding the visit and they stayed behind on their own while Rison set out alone.
Stating that the state government felt concerned about ensuring Rison’s safe return from Ukhrul to Imphal, Gaikhangam asserted that he was not deliberately deprived of his escorts.
Deputy CM revealed that a large number of requests from VIPs for the visit to different places like Chandel, Senapati came but all were not considered in view of the volatile situation.