IT News
Imphal, Feb 24:
Around midnight yesterday, the office of the United Committee Manipur (UCM) at Lamphel, Imphal West, was set ablaze by unknown miscreants. Reacting strongly to this violent incident, UCM consultant Yumnamcha Dilipkumar stated that whoever committed this arson should be apprehended and given strict punishment according to the law. He further expressed his dismay, stating that the arson of the UCM office was heart-breaking.
UCM is an organization consisting of multiple entities, and this incident has not affected the organization itself. He added, “Those who have done this, for whatever reason, should have talked to us directly first.” Lamenting the loss, he said, “All the documents that were painstakingly collected – a large collection of documents on the history and boundary of Manipur – are now turned to ashes.” He further stated that this is an intelligence failure on the part of the Manipur home department, and the government is responsible. Therefore, they should take immediate action. Dilipkumar emphasized that if the Manipur government is still in power, they should take appropriate action.
UCM President Joychandra Konthoujam, expressing a similar sentiment, narrated the history of UCM, from how it started from the movement to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur. He said the arson is the same as the “burning of our history as the arson has led to the destruction of important documents, some of which were collected for publications. These documents could not be acquired now even if we pay crores and crores of rupees.”
Furthermore, he added that not only computers and other stationery items, but even the clothes we kept for personal use were all burnt down. “In the president’s room, the money kept for the construction of the office, around 5.3 lakhs rupees, which were donations from the people, were all burnt down,” he added. Joychandra further stated that the arson led to the destruction of all these properties that belong to the people of Manipur. He appeals that all the parties should understand that they all have come out to defend the territorial integrity of Manipur and Manipuri people.
