KANGPOKPI, April 21: In a bid to prevent escalation of tensions among different communities and to pressurize the concerned authorities to effectively curb incidents of hijacking, looting and harassing travelers and transporters along the NH-2, a joint meeting of the police, 25 Assam Rifles, civil organisations of Senapati and Sadar Hills was held today at Senapati DHQ.
Chaired by Superintendent of Police K. Kabib, the joint meeting was attended by presidents and other representatives of different civil organizations including Naga People’s Organization (NPO), Kuki Inpi-Sadar Hills, SDWA, Kuki Women Union Sadar Hills, SDSA, KSO-SH, Police officials, 25 AR Post Commander, Maj. H.N. Singh and various others responsible leaders.
During the meeting, the Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills gave back the snatched mobile phones of the flower vendors of Mao and the key of their hijack vehicle along with some financial assistance to flower vendors who were assaulted by armed militants on April 19 morning at Keithelmanbi.
The NPO also acknowledged the initiatives of the Senapati Police under the SP who immediately recovered the hijacked vehicle and victims on the day of the incident.
The apex bodies deliberated and condemned the April 19 Keithelmanbi incident where three women were assaulted before hijacking their bolero pick up vehicle by some armed militants along the NH-2 for monetary demands.
Gravely considering the incident, the civil bodies noted that, public cannot continue to tolerate such anti-social elements and requested the Police and Assam Rifles to beef up their activities for safety of innocent civilians and bread earners who has to take the lifeline highway anytime.
Expressing solidarity to the victims, the Senapati SP also assured that, the police will put their best efforts to prevent such incidents by strictly monitoring the highway and appealed to the people to contact the police anytime in time of such incidents.
Meanwhile, condemnation against the Keithelmanbi hijacking and assault incident continue to pour in from various organisations.
The Mao Students’ Union (MSU) in a press statement has condemned the hijacking, extortion, looting, harassing and assaulting the common bread earners, who were earning their livelihood by getting little extra inspite of all the hardship and pains.
Condemning the armed militant’s activities along the highway, the student body claimed that, thousand of vehicles are plying along the NH-2, which is the lifeline of Manipur and this kind of incident is not new.
It also said that the extortions meted out to the common fruit, flowers and vegetables sellers from Mao going to Imphal Market were regular at Keithelmanbi stretch along NH-2.
Many of our vegetables sellers who are earning their livelihood had to give up their business due to fear of hijacking, looting, extortions and assault, it stated.
While strongly denouncing the April 19 Keithelmanbi incident, the Mao Students Union term the act as barbaric and coward while asked the concerned groups to claim the responsibility and demand the authority concerned to booked the culprit and deliver justice at the earliest.
The Senapati District Driver’s Welfare Union (SDDWU) also condemned the April 19 Keithelmanbi incident while stating that disturbing the peaceful environment with such inhumane activities is uncalled for in the society.
The union also urged the concerned authorities and the State government to take up concrete stand to solve the problem and immediately book the culprits.
While conveying solidarity to its member Hepuni, son of Hriili, who was also assaulted and injured during the unfortunate Keithelmanbi incident, the union also demands preventive measures to be taken up to avoid such incident in the future for safety of all travelers particularly the hill community neighbors and in the interest of people.
At least two or three abduction and kidnapping incident occurred disgracefully in a week along the National Highway within Sadar Hills but most of the incidents are unreported.