Condemning the state government for not effectively controlling poll-related violence occurring in some places, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) vice-president Kh Ratankumar Singh demanded the authority concerned to take action against those culprits involved in the recent gun attack on Congress workers at Mayang Imphal Loukok on December 23 night.
During a press conference at Congress Bhawan on Friday, Ratankumar said that poll-related violence also happened during the previous elections but were not intense like what is happening now prior to the 12th Manipur State General Assembly Election.
The people of the state have been demanding the government to control such terrifying violence which are being carried out in the form of “mafia” or “masked man” in some places of the state, the VP of MPCC said.
However, instead of untoward incidents ending, ‘scary type of poll violence’ is spreading in Mayang Imphal area, Ratankumar stated. As per information received from his local people, such violent attacks were reported to be carried out by BJP workers, he alleged while condemning the state government’s weakness to control the situation.
He narrated that two of his workers, who recently joined the Congress from the BJP, were attacked with gunshots while conducting an election campaign in one of the residences at Mayang Imphal Loukok on December 23 at around 7.30 pm.
A team of Mayang Imphal police rescued them and left them at Uchiwa Awangbal area but they were attacked again when they reached Mayang Imphal Bengoon area while meeting with other Congress workers, Ratankumar maintained.
In connection with these life attempt incidents, which are suspected to be carried out by BJP workers, an FIR was lodged but till date not a single step to arrest the culprits has been taken up.
The state government should give the reason for not initiating any steps to arrest those culprits even after seven days of incident, Ratankumar demanded and questioned if the police department is working under the order of leaders. If the leaders can take swift action against those who give any negative comment to them on social media, why can’t they make any arrest against people involved in poll violence, he asked.
Expressing his views about the reason behind the reported increase of poll violence, he said that money and muscle power are the key reasons. Nowadays, having more money has become essential criteria to contest elections than having proper academic background or good moral and social behaviour.
