Northeast

Election-related violence increasing in Manipur's Heirok despite imposition of 144 CrPC

BJP workers allegedly destroyed three houses of Congress workers of Heirok Part II, Thokchom Leikai, Thoubal district on Monday night.

ByIFP Bureau

Updated 27 Oct 2021, 3:19 pm

Representational Image (Photo: Pixabay)
Representational Image (Photo: Pixabay)

 

A poll-related violence took place yet again at Heirok Part II, Thokchom Leikai, Thoubal district of Manipur wherein BJP workers allegedly destroyed three houses of Congress workers of the area on Monday night.

The incident comes two days after the prohibitory order under CrPC 144 was imposed in the “whole of Heirok village area” by the district administration.

The order stated, “There is an apprehension of breach of peace and disturbances of public tranquillity in the Heirok area since a few days and there is a possibility of clashes and bloodshed among the general public,” stated the order.

In a press conference held at Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul, Imphal, one Thokchom Noren Singh who is a family member of one of the victims alleged the BJP workers of destroying his house along with the house of two of his neighbours and demanded answers.  

He narrated that at about 7.30 pm on Monday, her daughter Thokchom Supriya called him over the phone and told him not to come as some people were attacking their house and asking for his whereabouts. He did not return to his house, following the information shared by her daughter.

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Early the next morning, he found that his house had been completely vandalised. No furniture was found, and even utensils were all destroyed and burnt down, he said.

He continued that according to his daughter, among those involved in attacking his residence were Thokchom Dhruba, Thokchom Shamjan and Thokchom Sanbi.

Noren further said that he had hoisted the flag of Congress party while some were hoisting the flags of other political parties, including the BJP. The group of people attacked his and his two neighbours’ residences, he maintained while questioning their intentions behind their attack.

“The victims of Heirok are unable to speak out against such attacks out of fear but I have resolved to speak about the incident as my family have nothing left, even our beds have been destroyed by the attackers,” he said.  

He said the alleged BJP workers will be responsible if any unwanted incident occurs to him and his family.

His daughter, Supriya said she pleaded with the attackers to stop destroying their property and her mother fainted out of panic during the incident.  She pleaded to them to save her mother but instead they told her to remain silent, she said. After the incident, they found that all the clothes and jewelry were missing, she added.

“We are afraid that they might return to attack us again when the night comes,” Supriya said.

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District magistrate, Thoubal district had issued an order to impose 144 CrPc with immediate effect from October 24 until further orders in the entire area of Heirok village.

After the incident at Heirok on Monday night, the state government has deployed additional security forces to monitor the situation.

As per sources, one company each of Border Security Forces and Central Reserve Police Forces, as well as additional forces of Indian Reserve Battalion, have been deployed to monitor and control any unwanted incidents in connection with the upcoming election.

District police, Thoubal district told the Imphal Free Press that search for the accused persons are still continuing with house-to-house search being conducted; however, no one has been arrested to date.

The Police said that among the accused persons, Thokchom Romeo, 44, son of late Th Ingo of Heirok Part II Thokchom Leikai is an IRB personnel posted at 5 IRB. District police have informed commanding officer (CO) 5 IRB and he will be arrested soon, Police said.

 

 

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heirokmanipur assembly elections 2022election violencepoll violence

IFP Bureau

IFP Bureau

IMPHAL, Manipur

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