IMPHAL, February 16: Residents of Khurai area comprising of three localities convened an emergency meeting this evening regarding an alleged assualt of the president and secretary of Uttarayan theatre and a sound proprietor by volunteers of the Kangleipak Student Association (KSA).
The Uttaran theater had reportedly organized a Housie/tombola to raise funds for the renovation and completion of its under construction theater cum community hall in collaboration with the three localities- Khurai Sajor Leirak, Khurai Konsam Leikai and Khurai Thongam Leikai.
The meeting resolved that the volunteers involved in the physical assault should come to the office of the Uttarayan theatre before 3 pm of February 19 for compromise and to short the problem regarding the incident peacefully.
It was also resolved that in case the KSA volunteers failed to turn up before the set deadline, then the three leikais will social boycott the KSA.
Speaking at the emergency meeting, members of the Uttarayan theatre said that on February 14, the housie draw was mid way when two individuals came to the venue and introduced themselves as volunteers of the KSA and asked to stop the housie.
A heated exchange of words ensued between the two and the organizers as they were not prepared to stop the draw with the two demanding money from the organizing commtitee which was opposed by the local club members and members of the theatre after which the two left the place and the housie continued and ended peacefully on the day, he claimed.
He further said in today`s local newspaper, they came across the news item of the KSA asking the organizers of the housie to be present at the KSA head office located at Sega road at the earliest after which local elders along with the president, secretary and sound proprietor went to the KSA office today morning at around 11:30 am.
When they went inside the KSA office, all of them were taken to a small room and were beaten up by the volunteers of the KSA and also threatened with `consequences` that would follow at their respective residences, he alleged.
He continued, saying that after the news of assualt, led to an attempt from the locals of the three Leikai to storm the KSA office which was prevented by a team of Imphal police station, he said.
Another member of the theatre said that today`s incident is very unfortunate and asked whether they are right to take the law in their hands.
Meanwhile, addressing a press meet at the Manipur Press Club, Kangleipak Students’ Association, KSA advisor Pradip Kumar said that the student body had temporarily banned all entertainment programs within the state until the upcoming 10thand 12th exams are over which was announced through the media.
He further said that according to information on February 14, a tombola game was organised at Chingmeirong area.
The KSA member rushed to the spot and after exchange of talks with the organizers, discontinued the game as the loudspeakers would disturb the study preparation of students who are appearing for their exams.
He said that on the same day, another tombola game was organized at Khurai Sajor Leikai.
A team of KSA members led by its publicity secretary Angouton Khuman tried to intervene in the entertainment program leading to a conflict among the student body and the organizers of the game.
The tombola game was somehow played.
Advisor KSA said that the organizers put baseless charges against the member of KSA which provoked the student body.
He further said that KSA summoned the organizers to the KSA office today, following which, the organizer with locals visited the KSA office.
He continued that while trying to bring about an understanding, the office of the student body was pelted with stones by the accompanying members.
The stone pelting by a group of around 100 people broke up the meeting, he claimed.
The advisor has further said that the ban on entertainment programs as said earlier will remain. He added that the `unwanted incident` with the organizers will settle down soon but warned that the student body `will give them a lesson` against disturbing students’ environment in the society.