Police complaint filed against MLA

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 19 : A day after an under-construction school building was demolished in Khurai, a local club has filed a police complaint against MLA Leishangthem Susindro Meitei for destruction of public property and criminal intimidation.
The destruction of the public property and criminal intimidation warrant immediate registration of a First Information Report, said Mayanglambam Khonikar Meitei, general secretary, Friends' Union Club in his complaint submitted to the Officer-in-charge of Porompat police.
Construction to develop the Khurai Heikrumakhong Junior High School, under OTRI scheme (North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NE- SIDS)-Other Than Roads Infrastructure), was on when it was dismantled, said the complaint.
The construction under the scheme was aimed at improving educational infrastructure for the children of the locality.
However, at approximately 1.30 pm of January 18, Khurai AC MLA Leishangthem Susindro Meitei, without any lawful authority or order from the Government of Manipur, illegally and in a manner amounting to "gundaism," proceeded to destruct and dismantle the ongoing construction, said the complaint.
During this illegal act of destruction, the MLA also threatened the workers and engineers engaged in the construction, thereby creating an atmosphere of fear and hindering the legitimate execution of a Government project. His actions were a blatant disregard for the rule of law and an abuse of his position as an elected representative, it said. The actions of Leishangthem Susindro constitute serious cognizable offences. The threats issued to the workers and engineers amount to criminal intimidation, causing alarm and fear. And also, under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, particularly Section 3: The destruction of a Government school building, which is public property, is a direct violation of this Act, said the complaint.
The conduct of the elected public representative in taking the law into his own hands and resorting to such illegal and violent acts is highly reprehensible and undermines the very foundation of democratic governance. Such actions set a dangerous precedent and erode public trust in institutions, it said.
The destruction of an ongoing Government project, funded by public money, results in a direct and significant loss to the public exchequer. This wastage of taxpayer money is a serious matter that warrants immediate investigation and accountability, said the complaint.
The illegal dismantling of the school construction directly impacts the educational prospects of the children in the Khurai Heikrumakhong locality, who were eagerly awaiting the completion of the school. This act deprives them of their fundamental right to education and causes immense hardship to the community, stressed the complaint, seeking the police to register an FIR against the MLA under relevant laws.