IT News
Imphal, Feb 11:
Large number of Congress workers and leaders today staged a protest demonstration in front of the Congress Bhavan here at BT Road Imphal today afternoon denouncing the attempt to set ablaze the Congress Office and also decrying the unfounded allegation to the President of the Youth Congress Committee Ningthoujam Popilal by filing an FIR.
Following a penal discussion at IMPACT TV in its daily programme called ‘Manung Hutna’, where Congress youth leader N. Popilal and BJYM Spokesperson Suresh had a heated argument over some political matter, a large number of BJYM supporters thronged to the office of the IMPACT TV at Keishampat with the suspicious intention to attack the Youth Congress leaders. Police timely intervened in the matter and the Congress leader was escorted safely after settling the matter in the presence of BJYM President M. Barish Sharma.
The following day, the MPCC president K. Meghachandra and other MPCC leaders appointed Ningthoujam Popilal as the president of the Youth Congress Committee. Three others were also appointed as the working president of the Youth Congress Committee. Popilal along with the Congress team filed a report against the attempt to assault them at the Impact TV office at City police on February 9.
The very evening BJYM Spokesperson Suresh and BJYM Secretary Alex were allegedly assaulted at gunpoint. Police reports said that the two were stopped by 4 gunmen while they were on their way to Lamphel area near Shija Hospital diversion route. The complaint said that Suresh was beaten blue and black and while Alex, who tried to stop them was also assaulted. The incident reportedly happened at around 9.30 pm. The assault on the BJYM cadres by gunmen was complained to the Lamphel Police station and an FIR has been registered. Both Suresh and Alex are undergoing treatment at Raj Medicity Hospital at North AOC. As per report Suresh’s condition is critical and has been shifted to ICU.
That very evening at around 10 pm a team of police team allegedly ransacked the house of Ningthoujam Polpilal at his Phayeng residence. Popilal on a facebook page stated that he return to his home at around 6 pm of that day and was teaching his brothers and sisters till around 9.30 pm. But due to Lai Harouba festival going on nearby, he let his brother and sister rest as they could not concentrate on their studies due to the noise from the Lai Haroaba festival. He also stated that he went to watch the festival as it happen in his locality.
It was during that time that a police team ransacked the house as per a report by the sister of Popilal. Popilal’s grandmother got shocked by the attitude of the police personnel and her condition worsens.
Interestingly at around 9.30 pm yesterday some miscreants set on fire using petrol in front of the Congress Bhavan office. It was noticed by those security guards inside the Congress Bhavan and immediately extinguished the fire from causing further harm. A half-liter bottle of petrol was found lying nearby by a police team who rushed to the spot.
Congress workers point fingers at the BJP and the BJYM volunteers for the attempt for burning the office of the Congress Party at BT road.
Noor Rahman, General Secretary MPCC said that the place where some people set on fire is just around 500 meters away from the Chief Minister’s office and just around 300 meters away from the Raj Bhavan.
“How could some persons without the support of any powerful people set on fire at such a high-security area”, Noor Rahman told media persons.
He also said that the government under Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had many times arrested people who are against the government without taking much time but in the case of those people trying to burn the Congress office, no person has been arrested till now.
State coordinator youth congress committee, also denounced the act and said that the allegation level against Youth President N. Poipla is unfounded. He appealed to the government not to harass the congress leader and said that the Youth congress and other people of the state will not be able to tolerate any attempt to suppress the voice of the people.
