Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 21 2009:
Throwing the gauntlet into the CM's court over the killing of Dr Kishan and two of his staff, L Ibomcha Singh, former secretary (Law), ex-MLA of Manipur and RTI activist demands the declaration of �Emergency' in the hill district and urges the Government authority to convene a special session of the Assembly to discuss the matter.
While saying that the killing of an SDO and two of his subordinates is an indication that there is no Government administration in hill areas, the activist, in a statement argues the Cabinet recommendation for the declaration of �Emergency' under Clauses (a) and (C) of Article 355 of the Constitution on ground of Constitutional Machinery failure in hill districts.
If the reported story of the three employees being kidnapped after a meeting in the Ukhrul DC's office on February 13 holds to be true, then why did the DC took leave on personal works the next day and left for Delhi, L Ibomcha asked.
He also demanded an explanation from the Government to clarify on which date did the DC submitted his application for leave to whom, and when did the DP sanctioned the leave of the DC, and to whom did the DP order entrusts responsibility in the absence of the DC.
Likewise, the rights activist also asks the government to furnish the date when the SP of Ukhrul had taken leave for treatment at Shija Clinic and to whom the application was addressed to, and the date when the leave was sanctioned.
He said that if the Government cannot give the answers to these questions, then the DC and SP must be charged as working against the security of the state and they must be dismissed or removed from service under Article 311, Clause (c) of the Constitution.
He also said that they must be interrogated along with the DC security personnel and Revenue staff and frequent visitors of DC and the SDO at the Joint Interrogation Cell at Kangla to extract the identities of the kidnappers and then they must be detained under NSA.
He also said that it would be satisfying had the Works Minister inquired the whereabouts of the SDO when he did not found him during his tour in the district.
Asserting that the two-man inquiry committee to find out the culprits involved will bear no results, the activist also said that the government cannot deliver punishment to the perpetrators based on the inquiry report while saying that it will however be able to protect the DC and SP who have been placed under suspension.
He said that the government is not serious in every inquiry it had instituted.
He also said that the cabinet decision of giving ex-gratia and handing over the case to CBI is not acceptable to the people.
Citing the ex-gratia payment to victims of the recent terrorists' attack in Mumbai, L Ibomcha urged that the SDO and two of his subordinates must be given not less than Rs 50 lakh each as ex-gratia.
He said that Rs 10 lakh is not worthy amount even for police SI.
He also said that no one would tolerate the wide difference of ex-gratia rate between the people of NE States and other parts of the country.
He also cited the case of additional chief secretary Saichhuana, IAS who died of a natural death and was compensated with Rs 5 lakh.
Ibomcha also asked why a case has been immediately handed over to the CBI, had not there been an investigating agency of our own? He also lambasted the government on where the thousands of state security personnel have gone.
And why the government didn't provided security to officers posted in far off place while officers within zero mile have been provided security protection.
It also questioned the nature of getting security by officers.
The retired bureaucrat also lamented that the Union Home Minister had visited the state during the stand-off at Shiroy between the AR and the NSCN (IM) while he kept silent in the ongoing incident.The statement further urged for the convening a special session of the Assembly to discuss matter pertaining to the killings.