IMPHAL, February 25: A State police team led by DIG Range 1 IK Muivah has been dispatch for Kohima to hold talks with all concerned including the neighbouring State’s police chief regarding the ban on Meitei/ Manipur vehicles in Naga populated areas by Nagaland based Nagaland Students’ Federation, State Home minister Gaikhangam told the House today.
The Deputy Chief Minister also expressed hope to find an amicable solution to the row soon.
He was replying to a calling attention motion regarding the NSF ban moved by Opposition MLAs Th Shyamkumar Singh of AITC and Kh Joykishan Singh of BJP.
The Deputy Chief Minister also presented a report regarding the allegation that a team of the Imphal East District Police Commando had manhandled a team of NSF leaders on February 14, while the latter was on their way to Ukhrul to attend the Lui Ngai Ni festival.
He said since the Lui Ngai Ni festival at Ukhrul was to be attended by the Chief Ministers of both Nagaland and Mizoram, the State police were on alert along the National Highway 2 and in Ukhrul since February 13.
He said the alleged incident occurred around 6:40 am of February 14 at a frisking and checking point at Mantripukhri.
Gaikhangam said the police commando personnel led by sub-inspector Imtiyas Rehman had stopped the vehicle bearing regd no NL 01/P 0080 coming from the northern side.
When the three persons inside the vehicle were asked to come down for frisking and checking, only two persons came out and the driver refused to come down, he said.
He continued even after the checking of the two was completed, the driver failed to cooperate to the police and instead remained talking on his mobile phone.
At this, the police team seized their mobile phones and informed the Heingang Police Station and Imphal East commando Officer in Charge, he added.
Soon after the additional police team arrived, the issue was settled, he said.
He also clarified before the House that the police team had never physically assaulted or arrested the NSF team.
He said the IK Muivah led team will hold talks with the Nagaland police and all concerned to settle the issue.
Gaikhangam also informed the House that if in case the Manipur Police commando team had actually assaulted the NSF team, proper action will be taken up once the IK Muivah led team arrives from Kohima.
The NSF has also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister demanding service termination of the personnel involved in the incident, he added.