IMPHAL, April 11:Allegation made on Mongjam Poireihenba by Ngangom Shanta is baseless and seems politically motivated. This was said, to the media in a press meet to clarify the charges made by Shanta regarding the work site of Loushangkhong Bailey Bridge construction within the jurisdiction of Lamlai Police Station, Kh Indrakumar, one of the labourer on the construction site said.
He said regarding the incident they have submitted a written complain to DGP appealing for action against the accused person.
He reported that on April 9, at about 1:00 pm, the OC Lamlai PS, namely, Inspector Devakumar and his staff, SI Nabakanta picked the labourers up from the Khola at the work site of Loushangkhong Bailey Bridge construction within the jurisdiction of Lamlai Police Station and then were wrongfully kept in their custody without notifying them as to why they were picked up or arrested.
`The OC Larnlai PS and SI Nabakanta repeatedly threatened us in the past few days and warned us to stop the construction work saying that we should leave the Khola and should not do any work at the work site,` he said. `As we refused to leave the Khola SI Nabakanta and his team picked us up from the Khola of the work site,` he charged.
They were then detained in police custody. Towards the evening Meira Paibis of Swombung, youths of local clubs etc, protested against the illegal action of the police and demanded the release of the detained labourers, he said.
`Responding to the strong public protest, we were released from the police custody at about 7:00 pm,` he added.
`On Friday April 10 at about 12 noon the SI Nabakanta repeatedly rang up from his mobile No. 9856088701 to the mobile No. 8974431225 which belongs to Khaidem Indrakumar Meetei asking us to appear at the Lamlai Police Station,` he said.
`We had apprehensions that unless proper legal action is taken up against the OC Lamlai PS and his staff, SI Nabakanta will harass and torture us again them even we do not commit any crime or offence,` he pleaded.
`We appealed proper action against the OC Lamlai PS and his staff, SI Nabakanta for their misused law against them,` he reiterated.
Meanwhile, M Poireihenba clarified that he is not related to Shanta in any way. He said `Shanta is involved in crimes such as armed extortion etc in the Imphal East district areas. He was book under FIR: 87/10/14/Lamlai PS in October last year by CDO Imphal East for an extortion case`.
Again in February he was again arrested from the Sekta area for demanding money from Magic service vehicles and kept in custody for three days at the Sekata Post. But since no FIR was lodged against him, he has released thereafter. Yet again, on April 7 he used the Lamlai Police SI Nabakanta to threaten labourers working at the construction site, he charged.