Imphal, July 22 2009: Denouncing the alleged conduct of the security forces in burning down the houses of the civilians and killing and eating the meat of Pigs being reared by them, in the name of counter insurgency operation at Pumlenpat on June 20, MLA O Joy of MPP today asked the Assembly whether the Pigs are also UGs, evoking laughter from the members.

However, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who is also in charge of Home, clarified that there was no such report nor any did any villager lodge complaint in this regard.

Raising a call attention motion, in connection with the alleged excesses of the security forces during the operation conducted at Chingjao in Pumlenpat of Loktak Lake on June 20, O Joy said that the personnel of the combined force of 12 Maratha Light Infantry, 21 Assam Rifles and Police Commandos, who participated in the operation, do not deserve to be decorated.

It is wrong and illegal to burn down the houses of the civilians and kill the pigs being reared by the civilians for consumption, all in the name of counter insurgency, Joy said, adding that public have suffered enough in the ongoing conflict between the armed UGs and the security forces.

It is time to show that there is a democratic Government in place instead of giving free hands to the police and the army in targeting the innocent public, he asserted.

While questioning wheher the conduct of the Commandos in eating the the Pigs, reared by the people, was part of the discipline of the security forces or whether they saw the Pigs as UGs, Joy also demanded payment of compensation to the villagers for the loss suffered.

In response to the call attention motion, the Chief Minister informed the House that exchange of firing broke out when the combined force of Army and Commandos rushed to Pumlenpat from three directions on receipt of specific information about the presence of UGs in the isle.

After the encounter, search of the area led to recovery of incriminating documents related to the PLA and KYKL, arms and ammunition among others.

Even if there are no permanent settlement or houses in the area, PLA and KYKL had set up temporary camps and were using the isle as transit route, Ibobi said.

Assuring that action can be taken up if there is report or evidences on the alleged misconduct of the security forces during the said operation, the Chief Minister noted that there is no report or complaint in connection with setting on fire the houses of the villagers and killing their Pigs.

To this Joy interjected maintaining that the matter should not be left unattended just because the villagers have not filed complaints.

He asserted that the villagers have been threatened by the Commandos and if necessary he can ensured filing of the complaints.

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