Correspondent
IMPHAL, Jul 16: Opposition Congress in Manipur on Thursday alleged that there was a serious lack of effective security coordination between the state government and the Central security forces while dealing with the protracted violent crisis in Manipur.
A Congress team led by Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader K Meghachandra Singh visited Kanto Sabal at Leimakhong in Indian Army cantonment area to inspect the six houses that were razed to ashes by a group of Kukis on July 11 last.
Singh said that the burning of the houses was a clear indication of security lapses and negligence on the part of the government.
He pointed out that as the site was located very close to the gate of the GOC of 57th Mountain Division, it reflected a lack of proper security coordination between the state government and the Central security forces.
“During the inspection, we found serious security lapses and negligence on the part of the government,” he told the reporters.
Asserting that even after more than three years of conflict, such incidents of arson continue to occur, he said that it sent a disturbing message that peace and normalcy have yet to be restored under the present government.
During the visit, the Congress team also met the GOC (General Officer Commanding) of the 57th Mountain Division Major General Shubhankar Basu and Brigadier JBS Rathi and discussed the need for security repositioning to prevent future security lapses.
Congress leader A Oken Singh and IDP representative Ravi Singh also participated in the discussion.
The MPCC team urged the authorities concerned to make every possible effort to restore lasting peace.
The meeting discussed the need for security rearrangement and repositioning to prevent future security lapses, the CLP leader said.
“We also urged the authorities to make every possible effort to restore peace and deliberated on several other measures necessary for bringing lasting peace and security to the state,” Singh said.
The MPCC team included former minister M Hemta Singh, ex-MLA Y Surachandra Singh, president of Manipur Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC) W Anand Singh and retired major Y Angamba Singh among others.
The Congress team also interacted with the residents of Kanto Sabal who aired their plights due to the alleged lack of effective security measure for the security of the villages in the periphery of the Imphal West district adjoining Kangpokpi district despite being an Army cantonment area.
The MPCC team’s visit came barely a day after Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh inspected the new security arrangement put in place after the recent arson incident and the reconstruction of six houses that were damaged in an arson incident.
The houses burnt down by the Kuki mobs were being reconstructed with all the expenses borne by local BJP MLA H Dingo Singh.
The chief minister, while interacting with the personnel of Leimakhong police station, instructed the police personnel to take up necessary measures so as to prevent untoward incidents in the area.
The chief minister also held talks with representatives of Meitei and Nagas imposing economic blockade at Kanto Sabal.
Notably, following the recent arson incident, the state government has deployed a unit of the state police commando as a part of enhancing the security in the vulnerable area.