IMPHAL, March 16: Congress party MLA Nongthombam Biren asked how it was possible for a bomb blast to occur at Khwairamband killing innocent people after the state Home Department had claimed there were no security lapses in Imphal city.
Taking in a short duration discussion Biren along with RK Anand and Ng Bijoy raised a discussion on the panic situation in the aftermath of the recent bomb blast that left three people dead and over 20 injured.
Biren contradicted the Home Department`™s claim and said this is a proof of a serious security lapse and if it continues this could lead to the re-imposition of the AFSPA in the Imphal municipal area.
He also said targeting non local and innocent people in Imphal City could have been masterminded by sinister elements to recall the AFSPA in Imphal area.
He said it is very unfortunate that none has been booked and punished for such bomb blasts till today, and this is a surprise as two thirds of the total strength of the Home department is deployed in Imphal East and Imphal West district.
He also blasted the fact that the CCTVs installed in Imphal city are not functional. If the CCTVs were functioning, the culprit would have been indentified by now he said. He expressed surprise that the CCTVs have been allowed to remain unrepaired for so long, and hinted that the Home Department is taking advantage of the fact that it is exempted from RTI purview.
He further said there was a time when super cops in the state were so through with their responsibilities that they were able to arrest law breakers in Imphal city almost immediately. Where have all these cops gone, why they are not utilised? he further asked. We need a special police team led by an IPS office to investigate the incident, he suggested.
In his reply to MLA Biren`™s arguments, Home Minister Gaikhangam said that in last decade, violence by insurgents had reduce a lots but since the two years a new bomb culture and crime against women has risen in the state.
He further said that after the Khwairamband incident a security arrangement review was held at the level of combine Head Quarter under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister.
The meeting resolved for an increase in police frisking and checking in the city area. Even though it may inconvenience women vendors to be kept on constant vigil, full functioning of CCTV camera in the Imphal city, around the clock bike patrolling and mass operation etc will commence shortly he said.
Police officers also did their duty properly and if we do not encourage them their morale might slip, he said.
He said there is a positive angle to the story and this is the voice of the people against such crimes of killing innocent people.
The police has arrested the culprits behind the Uripok blast, and they are investigating the Khwairamband blast intensely, and have already got some valuable inputs and clues, but these cannot be openly declared as yet as the investigations are still under process. After the investigation concludes, the report will be made public said Gaikhangam.
The August House then expressed strong condemnation to the barbaric of killing of innocent people.