Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 23:
Asserting that the stand and posturing adopted by MEELAL is not only illegal but also criminal, DGP Y Joykumar today said that the diktats imposed by MEELAL is in direct confrontation to the notification of the State Govt issued on December 12, 2006.Speaking to reporters today, the police chief also said that vehicles carrying only the Meitei Mayek on their number plates will amount to violating the Motor Vehicle Act and as such will be liable for prosecution.
As such vehicle owners have been asked to ensure that they do not use number plates written only in Meitei Mayek.
Explaining the reasons for the action taken up by the police against MEELAL activists, Joykumar said that after announcing the deadline as well as the opening of 9 centres for the Mayek to be inscribed, its activists forcibly stopped vehicles and forced the owners to get the number plates written in Meitei Mayek.
This act amounts to criminal intimidation, wrongful confinement, encouraging communal hatred and is punishable under Sec 120 B/153 A/241/506 IPC 9 Punjab Security Act and Sec 192 and 198 of Motor Vehicle Act, added Joykumar.
The DG further said that the artists who have teamed up with MEELAL are also equally liable as conspirators.
Asserting that the majority of the public are yet to write and read Meitei Mayek, Joykumar said that if any such vehicle is involved in any accident or criminal cases, no witnesses will be able to give the registration number.
Therefore it may be taken that insisting that the number plates should be written in Meitei Mayek amounts to encouraging the commission of crime and criminal activities, added the police chief.