The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has strongly condemned the bomb attack on the residence of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and MLA K Meghachandra at Bishnunaha, Yairipok, in Thoubal district, questioning the apparent lack of effective police action against repeated attacks targeting Congress leaders and offices.
Speaking to the media, MPCC Vice President Hareshwar Goswami described the attack as a serious and unacceptable assault on a democratically elected representative. He said Meghachandra had been playing an active role in the ongoing session of the 8th Manipur Legislative Assembly, which commenced Wednesday, particularly in raising issues concerning restoration of peace and normalcy in the State and also for updation of the NRC with the base year 1951.
Goswami said the Congress suspected that the attack could be linked to Meghachandra’s position and statements in the Assembly, while stressing that the motive and identity of the perpetrators must be established through a credible investigation.
Questioning the police response to attacks against Congress members, Goswami alleged that no effective action had been taken even when militants had fired several rounds at his own residence. He also alleged that BJP workers and supporters had repeatedly stormed the MPCC office without facing what he described as adequate legal action.
He warned that continued inaction by the law-enforcement machinery could embolden anti-social elements to believe that attacks against Congress leaders and workers would carry little or no consequences.
Goswami demanded a serious investigation into the bombing and accountability for those responsible, saying that the safety of elected representatives could not be compromised in a functioning democracy.
Unknown miscreants reportedly detonated a powerful bomb at Meghachandra’s residence at around 8.15 pm yesterday. No injuries were reported, though the blast caused concern in the locality. The identity of the perpetrators and the motive behind the attack remain unknown.