‘Army responsible for failing to prevent arson’
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 12: Lok Sabha MP Dr Bimol Akoijam has come down heavily on the Army after several houses were set ablaze by Kukis in Kanto Sabal yesterday.
"How will an army which can't even protect 3-4 houses face China or Pakistan?" asked the MP at a press conference at Congress Bhavan Imphal today.
Lashing out at the Army for their inept failure, the MP said there have been six instances of arson in areas neighbouring the Headquarters of the Army's Red Shield Division since May 3, 2023.
Also, the Army Headquarters is the place where L Kamal Babu, who worked as a supervisor with the Military Engineering Services, went missing, Bimol said.
Yesterday, when people were protesting their houses being burnt and urging the security forces to intervene, the people met with tear gas shells and lathi charge. Such an attitude will only deepen people's distrust in them, Bimol said.
Bimol said the arson yesterday was the failure of the leaders sitting in Delhi and Imphal, and the Army should bear the responsibility for their inept failure, Bimol added.
Stating that the Army personnel didn't even show "any courtesy" to him as an MP when he visited the place of incident, Bimol said the reported confrontation between the Central forces and State forces yesterday revealed a complete collapse of coordination.
The confrontation between the police and the Central security forces revealed administrative failure and lack of coordination and accountability, he said.
Former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, who was present in the press meet, said yesterday's incident has raised a question whether there is President's Rule in Manipur.
Law and order has completely collapsed in Manipur and there is no democracy, Ibobi said, asserting that "the State Government is being run remotely by Modi and Shah".
Failure to promptly dispatch State forces and Fire Service personnel to control the fire and the situation was very unfortunate, Ibobi said.
IMPHAL, Jul 12: Lok Sabha MP Dr Bimol Akoijam has come down heavily on the Army after several houses were set ablaze by Kukis in Kanto Sabal yesterday.
"How will an army which can't even protect 3-4 houses face China or Pakistan?" asked the MP at a press conference at Congress Bhavan Imphal today.
Lashing out at the Army for their inept failure, the MP said there have been six instances of arson in areas neighbouring the Headquarters of the Army's Red Shield Division since May 3, 2023.
Also, the Army Headquarters is the place where L Kamal Babu, who worked as a supervisor with the Military Engineering Services, went missing, Bimol said.
Yesterday, when people were protesting their houses being burnt and urging the security forces to intervene, the people met with tear gas shells and lathi charge. Such an attitude will only deepen people's distrust in them, Bimol said.
Bimol said the arson yesterday was the failure of the leaders sitting in Delhi and Imphal, and the Army should bear the responsibility for their inept failure, Bimol added.
Stating that the Army personnel didn't even show "any courtesy" to him as an MP when he visited the place of incident, Bimol said the reported confrontation between the Central forces and State forces yesterday revealed a complete collapse of coordination.
The confrontation between the police and the Central security forces revealed administrative failure and lack of coordination and accountability, he said.
Former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, who was present in the press meet, said yesterday's incident has raised a question whether there is President's Rule in Manipur.
Law and order has completely collapsed in Manipur and there is no democracy, Ibobi said, asserting that "the State Government is being run remotely by Modi and Shah".
Failure to promptly dispatch State forces and Fire Service personnel to control the fire and the situation was very unfortunate, Ibobi said.