Imphal, September 13: United Committee Manipur, UCM has lambasted Nagaland Chief Minister and other top police officials of trying to paint a wrong picture of UCM in an attempt to cover up their own misdeeds and weakness.

Referring to allegations that UCM is overreacting to the Piphema incident by calling blockade on NH-39, Information and Public Relation Secretary of UCM, Joy Chingakham in a press statement clarified that in Manipur if a girl is not willing even touching her body is a serious matter.

Even if the girls have shied away from coming out with the true account to save their reputation due to the fear of social stigma, the fact that they have been molested by the armed looters is not something which can be simply brush aside.

It is the bounden duty of every brother to safeguard their sisters from marauding looters, the statement said.

Maintaining that certain organizations are also trying to create communal flare up over the incident, the statement said it is very unfortunate.

As to the indefinite ban on Manipur vehicles from passing through Nagaland, the statement made it clear that it is upto the people of Manipur to decide whether they would be able to pass through Nagaland after the Piphema incident which is yet another manifestation of the various atrocities meted out to the passengers along NH-39 within Nagaland.

Informing that North East Development Minister, Arun Shourie has also been intimated of the Piphema incident, UCM appealed to all concerned for maintaining peace and social harmony and not do anything that would disturb the social equilibrium.

Meanwhile, reports said, some miscreants who claimed to be supporters of the ongoing blockade beat up the driver of a Tata truck and smashed windshields of the vehicle carrying potatoes near Motbung bazar at about 8 o�clock in the morning.

The Tata truck (MN-01-4498) was heading for Imphal when the incident took place.

Talking to this reporter at the spot of the incident, the driver informed that the miscreants numbering around eight of them came in a Tata Sumo and a Maruti Van.

They took away the vehicle documents and slapped him for defying the blockade.