காங்கிரஸ் எம் எல் ஏக்கள் வீடுகளில் பயங்கரவாதிகள் கைது

மணிப்பூர் போலீஸார், காங்கிரஸ் எம் எல் ஏக்கள் வீட்டில் பதுங்கியிருந்த பயங்க்ரவாதிகளை கைது செய்துள்ளார்கள்.

பயங்க்ரவாதிகளுக்கு அடைக்கலம் கொடுத்ததாக இந்த எம் எல் ஏக்களை போலீஸார் குற்றம் சாட்டியுள்ளனர். இதனை இந்த எம் எல் ஏக்கள் மறுத்துள்ள்னர்.

மணிப்பூர் பாரதிய ஜனதா கட்சி தலைவர் டிக்கன் சிங், காங்கிரசுக்கும் இந்திய எதிர்ப்பு தீவிரவாத சக்திகளுக்கும் இடையே உள்ள தொடர்பு நன்றாக நிரூபிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது என்று குற்றம் சாட்டியுள்ளார்.


Cops charge Manipur MLAs
- Militants remanded in police custody, legislators deny links
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Imphal, Aug. 18: Manipur police have charged Congress MLAs W. Brajabidhu Singh, K. Meghachandra Singh and Bijoy Koijam and former legislator N. Sobhakiran Singh with harbouring militants after 12 rebels were arrested from their official quarters in Babupara VIP colony during a raid yesterday.

Three of them, however, denied having harboured militants. The four are likely to be questioned later.

The militants were produced before the chief judicial magistrate, Imphal, today and remanded in police custody till August 22.

Yesterday’s raid was carried out on instructions from chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who announced on Independence Day, that his government would launch a crackdown on militants.

“We are interrogating the arrested militants. The VIPs are charged with harbouring militants. We have yet to question the VIPs, but if necessary we will question them,” a police source said.

While Brajabidhu has lodged a complaint with the chief minister following the raid, Meghachandra was not available for comment.

“No militants have been staying in my quarters. Two of the eight allegedly arrested from my quarters have been working for me for the past 10 years. I do not know of other activities they may have been engaged in. Many people come to my office daily. Some of them could be militants. I cannot say. I am innocent,” Brajabidhu contended.

He said the septic tank from where a dismantled M-16 rifle and parts of a 9mm pistol were recovered, was located outside the complex. “The latrine over the tank is used by everyone who visits the three MLA quarters in this complex,” he said.

Bijoy Koijam said the Prepak member arrested from his quarters was a worker who was “leading a normal life” after being granted bail a few years ago.

Former MLA Sobhakiran said three persons were taken away from his quarters for verification but were released later that afternoon. “The Kangleipak Communist Party cadre mentioned in the police press release was not held fr-om my quarters,” he claimed.

Opposition parties have raised the pitch for Ibobi Singh’s resignation on “moral grounds”. “This shows that ruling MLAs have a nexus with militants,” former chief minister and RJD president W. Nipamacha Singh said.

BJP general secretary Tiken Singh said the arrests have blown the lid off a collusion between Congress MLAs and militants.

Opposition Manipur Peoples Party president L. Chandramani Singh said, “We will watch the follow-up action of the government. We will react at the appropriate time”.

The Manipur PCC has yet to take any decision on the MLAs. A leader of the committee said action against the MLAs, if any, would be taken in consultation with the AICC.