Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 23 2008:
Decrying the conduct of one SI Nando of Thoubal Police Commando towards him and other UPF leaders while returning from a meeting of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) at IGAR (South), Mantripukhri, secretary of department of information and publicity of UKLF James Bond Thadou has asserted that it was in violation of the laid down ground rules of SoO.
Talking to mediapersons somewhere in Sugnu area today, James Bond recalled that the representatives of UPF were coming together in a vehicle escorted by a QRT of Assam Rifles after the meeting at IGAR (South) when a team of Thoubal Police Commandos in two Gypsys led by SI Nando waylaid and stopped the vehicle near Slopeland Public School located in between Sora and Khongjom.
Then approaching the vehicle, SI Nando directly accused James Bond of forcing the owners of the seized fertilisers to say during a press conference at Sugnu that they have been threatened by SI Nando.
To this James Bond responded that there was no question of forcing or threatening the fertiliser owners in violation of the ground rules of SoO as UKLF is currently undergoing peace talks with the Government.
Moreover, one of the Police Commandos asked all the UPF representatives to get down from the vehicle and threatened to shoot them.
Only after the intervention of the QRT team of the Assam Rifles was the matter apparently settled and the UPF leaders were escorted back.
But as the vehicle started moving, one of the Police Commandos shouted saying that even if they escape this time, all of them would be shot down near AR camp and the Police Commandos followed them in another vehicle till Pallel, James Bond alleged.
Stating that UPF has taken up the onus of facilitating the peace talks for the future and welfare of the Kukis, James Bond said that threat on the UPF leadership is threat on the Kuki community as a whole.
If the State Police continue to misbehave in future, then various agitations would be launched in association with various other Kuki civil organisations, Jamesbond said.
If the leaders of the UPF were not allow free movement, then how the peace talks is supposed to carry on, he questioned, adding that to ensure free movement of the UPF leaders, the Governments of India and Manipur as well as the Joint Monitoring Group should given necessary instructions to the State forces.
Although a complaint had been lodged with the Joint Monitoring Group yesterday against the misconduct of SI Nando, but no action has been taken up and the DGP has been remaining silence, Jamesbond lamented.
UKLF has not violated any ground rules of the SoO, but from his conduct, SI Nando cannot free from the charges.
So the Government should take up necessary action against SI Nando and terminate him from service for violating the ground rules of SoO, Jamesbond demanded.
Otherwise, UKLF would take up its own course of action and at that time the Government should not blame UKLF of violating the ground rules, he added.