IMPHAL, January 10: Addressing media today at his chamber in Old Secretariat, Dy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who holds the Home portfolio spoke on a range of current issues in the state. Tackling queries on the recent visit by SC Jamir and other Congress leaders to the state and subsequent meetings wit the state leadership, he said there is no clarity over what Manipur can do with regard to Nagaland to bring an amicable solution to its issues.
Saying that though initiatives to bring an amicable solution to the ongoing Indo-Naga Peace Process are visible, the state Government has not been approached for help into the process.
Speaking on the Chandel incident, Gaikhangam said that the CM had a meeting with the leaders of various organizations who are agitating on various demands regarding the incident asking they have not seen any visible action against the Chandel incident.
He continued further that the police along with Assam Rifles personnel have conducted search operations in 6/7 villages including Livingstone’s house in their efforts to arrest him.
The police along with AR personnel have also raided suspected places where NSCN (IM) cadres are said to be present he said while adding that the police personnel including an ASI has been suspended for their negligence in performing their duties during the time of the said incident.
He further furnished a photo of Livingstone Anal for circulation in the media.
Further on the topic, Gaikhangnam said that NSCN (IM) being a UG group which is under peace talks with the GOI, it is not under the jurisdiction of the state government and hence, a delegation of all political parties is going to Delhi on January 16 to meet the Prime Minister and Home Minister in regard to the incident which will submit a joint memorandum.
The Dy CM has also clarified that the Government of India has not given any official instruction to state government, even though a written representation has been submitted to the GOI by the state government in regard to the Chandel incident.
On the matter of the recent incident wherein seven youths of Heirok Part-II were allegedly asked to impersonate being UGs in a ‘surrender drama’ by Assam Rifles, the Dy CM said It is a very unfortunate development and that efforts would be made so that such incidents does not happen in the future.
“I have spoken with the officials of both Assam Rifles and Police. The AR officials have clarified that the verification process of UGs for the surrender program is conducted by the police. So next time, only the police records will decide whether the person is a UG cadre or not. A person will not be recognized as a UG cadre if he/she is not in the police record,” he maintained
The incident of security personnel posted at Horticulture & Soil Conservation department allegedly assaulting an RTI Activist also found mention in the Dy CM`s media address.
“In order to maintain the law and order situation, security personnel are deployed at government offices and there might be instances where security personnel and people, who come to the office do go into a confrontation depending on the behavior of the person,” he said adding though that he has directed for a report to be submitted with regard to the incident. “RTI is useful if it is done in a proper way but UG groups are using RTI activists to extract money from the departments,” he alleged.