Day: November 6, 2011

IMPHAL, November 6:  DGP Y Joykumar in a press statement has clarified about the involvement of police personnel at the Noney incident which took place on November 4. In response to UNC and ANSAM`s press release which was published in  local papers on November 6, alleging that Manipur police commandos and IRB personnel assaulted civilians at Noney bazaar without any provocation. It said that bandh supporters at Noney had stopped two Tata Sumos coming towards Imphal in the morning  and burnt them down at about 8 am.

“The Police party which had gone for duty to Tousem in c/w the visit of the Union home minister could not cross Noney area before the midnight of November 3. It was also learnt that the crowd which had resorted to arson, burning down the two Tata Sumos was also still assembled at Noney to stop the police party returning from Tousem.  As the police team returning from Tousem had not carried any tear gas equipment, they would have had to open fire if stopped and attacked.  As we did not want this to happen, 12 teams of commandos along with tear gas equipment was sent from Imphal to retrieve the police team” the release stated.

The  DGP further mentioned that, the police commandos on arrival at Noney was blocked by the bandh supporters, the police personnel warned them to clear the road which was not heeded. Instead more people started gathering and the crowd started to swell. The police personnel fired a few tear gas shells to disperse the crowd after sufficient warning and cleared the road. The bandh supporters again blocked the road when the police commandos returned along with the Tousem team from Awangkhul. The public were asked to make way for the convoy. It was however not heeded. A stern warning was issued to clear the road but when the warning was also not heeded even after 10 minutes or so, and instead, the mob started pelting stones, hurling missiles to the police personnel, the police party resorted to firing tear gas and cleared the route. In the altercation, two police vehicles windshields were broken and two police personnel were injured, the statement added.

It has also mentioned that, the police department had no intention of hurting or injuring any civilians other than allowing safe passage to the police team returning from Tousem. However, on the other hand it was the bandh supporters who were actively indulging in burning of vehicles, damage to public properties without any provocation. The allegation that the crowd at Noney was a peaceful one and police resorted to firing of tear gas without any provocation is totally false. How can a crowd which had resorted to burning of two Tata Sumos and resorted to stone pelting to the police party be treated as a peaceful one, it added.

The official statement further mentioned that, numbers of arson cases had taken place at Noney. Only recently the burning of a DI Tata vehicles of police department on October 23 by the mob at Noney bazaar while negotiation was still going on by the SP of Tamenglong, burning of two Tata Sumos in between Noney and Awangkhul on November 4 and also the burning of Noney police out-post vehicles after police commandos left Noney on the same day bear testimony to the violent nature of the crowd at Noney.

It may be mentioned that the Police department tried to avoid confrontation with any crowd as far as possible. We have shown restrain and patience throughout the blockade called by the Sadar Hill District Demand Committee- and counter blockade called by UNC. It was only after things have gone beyond tolerable limit that the police had to resort to confrontation when the  works minister was unreasonably stopped and attacked by SHDDC supporters. Similar is the case , in respect of the incident at Noney on November 4. It may be mentioned that it would be wrong to take the entire state to ransom on unreasonable ground by any group leading to the untolerable suffering by the people.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/11/unruly-mob-at-noney-led-to-police-firing-tear-gas-shells-says-police-chief/

IMPHAL, November 6:  DGP Y Joykumar in a press statement has clarified about the involvement of police personnel at the Noney incident which took place on November 4. In response to UNC and ANSAM`s press release which was published in  local papers on November 6, alleging that Manipur police commandos and IRB personnel assaulted civilians at Noney bazaar without any provocation. It said that bandh supporters at Noney had stopped two Tata Sumos coming towards Imphal in the morning  and burnt them down at about 8 am.

“The Police party which had gone for duty to Tousem in c/w the visit of the Union home minister could not cross Noney area before the midnight of November 3. It was also learnt that the crowd which had resorted to arson, burning down the two Tata Sumos was also still assembled at Noney to stop the police party returning from Tousem.  As the police team returning from Tousem had not carried any tear gas equipment, they would have had to open fire if stopped and attacked.  As we did not want this to happen, 12 teams of commandos along with tear gas equipment was sent from Imphal to retrieve the police team” the release stated.

The  DGP further mentioned that, the police commandos on arrival at Noney was blocked by the bandh supporters, the police personnel warned them to clear the road which was not heeded. Instead more people started gathering and the crowd started to swell. The police personnel fired a few tear gas shells to disperse the crowd after sufficient warning and cleared the road. The bandh supporters again blocked the road when the police commandos returned along with the Tousem team from Awangkhul. The public were asked to make way for the convoy. It was however not heeded. A stern warning was issued to clear the road but when the warning was also not heeded even after 10 minutes or so, and instead, the mob started pelting stones, hurling missiles to the police personnel, the police party resorted to firing tear gas and cleared the route. In the altercation, two police vehicles windshields were broken and two police personnel were injured, the statement added.

It has also mentioned that, the police department had no intention of hurting or injuring any civilians other than allowing safe passage to the police team returning from Tousem. However, on the other hand it was the bandh supporters who were actively indulging in burning of vehicles, damage to public properties without any provocation. The allegation that the crowd at Noney was a peaceful one and police resorted to firing of tear gas without any provocation is totally false. How can a crowd which had resorted to burning of two Tata Sumos and resorted to stone pelting to the police party be treated as a peaceful one, it added.

The official statement further mentioned that, numbers of arson cases had taken place at Noney. Only recently the burning of a DI Tata vehicles of police department on October 23 by the mob at Noney bazaar while negotiation was still going on by the SP of Tamenglong, burning of two Tata Sumos in between Noney and Awangkhul on November 4 and also the burning of Noney police out-post vehicles after police commandos left Noney on the same day bear testimony to the violent nature of the crowd at Noney.

It may be mentioned that the Police department tried to avoid confrontation with any crowd as far as possible. We have shown restrain and patience throughout the blockade called by the Sadar Hill District Demand Committee- and counter blockade called by UNC. It was only after things have gone beyond tolerable limit that the police had to resort to confrontation when the  works minister was unreasonably stopped and attacked by SHDDC supporters. Similar is the case , in respect of the incident at Noney on November 4. It may be mentioned that it would be wrong to take the entire state to ransom on unreasonable ground by any group leading to the untolerable suffering by the people.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/11/unruly-mob-at-noney-led-to-police-firing-tear-gas-shells-says-police-chief/

IMPHAL, November 6: Security forces have arrested at least six militant cadres along with arms and ammunitions during separate counter insurgency operations, launched in different parts of the state since the past three days.

A statement issued by the Senior Superintendent of Police, informed that a combined team of the Imphal west district police commandos and troops of 10 AR arrested two cadres of the proscribed UNLF on November 4 from Phayeng near Don Bosco School around 10:35 in the morning.

The individuals have been identified as one Okram Bobo alias Angongakpan, 22, s/o O Ranbir Singh of Sagolband Bijoy Govinda Thangapat Mapal (army no. 2242) and Thounaojam Bachan alias Achouba alias Ahouba, 28, s/o (L) Th. Loken Singh of Heirangoithong (army no.2262).

It stated that on spot verification they disclosed to have joined the outfit in the year 2008 and trained at Burma.

The statement further informed that another joint team of the district police commandos and 18th Sikh regiment arrested two cadres of the proscribed KYKL on November 5 around 3:10 pm from their respective houses.

They have been identified as one Pukhrambam Jiten Singh alias Korou, 41, s/o P. Meipak Singh of Thangmeiband Hijam Dewan Leikai and Tongbram Dinesh Meetei, 42, s/o T. Tiken Meetei of Bachaspati Leikai Uripok.

On spot verification Jiten disclosed that he is working under one s/s caption Irom Kumar alias Romi alias Pongba of Tera Sapam Leirak since the last 2-3 years, it said.

He also disclosed that he along with his brother in law, Tongbram Dinesh, had been transporting arms and ammunitions besides collecting money from various government officials.

Five Chinese made hand grenades with detonators, a 9mm pistol with magazine containing two live rounds were also seized from Dinesh, it said.

In the meantime, the PRO IGAR (S) has stated in a separate press release that a combined team of 36 Assam Rifles and 43 Assam Rifles arrested a cadre of the proscribed KYKL militant while conducting joint operation in the general area of Kanglatombi on November 5.

The arrested cadre has been identified as sgt Huidrom Sharat, 38, s/o Tomba Singh of Saijang, Imphal east and handed over to Sekmai Police station, it added.

On the other hand, a statement issued by the PIB Defense Wing, stated that the troops of 33 Assam Rifles of Logtak Brigade under Red Shield Division apprehended one proscribed UNLF namely s/s lance corporal Moirangthem Sanajauba Singh alias Khoiren, 25 s/o Ibohal Singh of Moirang Lamkhai Khoiru, Bishenpur from general area of Moirang Lamkhai Khoiru, today. He was involved in illegal tax collection and extortion related activities in the area of Moirang. He has been handed over to Moirang Police Station, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/11/six-militant-cadres-arrested-from-different-places/

IMPHAL, November 6: Security forces have arrested at least six militant cadres along with arms and ammunitions during separate counter insurgency operations, launched in different parts of the state since the past three days.

A statement issued by the Senior Superintendent of Police, informed that a combined team of the Imphal west district police commandos and troops of 10 AR arrested two cadres of the proscribed UNLF on November 4 from Phayeng near Don Bosco School around 10:35 in the morning.

The individuals have been identified as one Okram Bobo alias Angongakpan, 22, s/o O Ranbir Singh of Sagolband Bijoy Govinda Thangapat Mapal (army no. 2242) and Thounaojam Bachan alias Achouba alias Ahouba, 28, s/o (L) Th. Loken Singh of Heirangoithong (army no.2262).

It stated that on spot verification they disclosed to have joined the outfit in the year 2008 and trained at Burma.

The statement further informed that another joint team of the district police commandos and 18th Sikh regiment arrested two cadres of the proscribed KYKL on November 5 around 3:10 pm from their respective houses.

They have been identified as one Pukhrambam Jiten Singh alias Korou, 41, s/o P. Meipak Singh of Thangmeiband Hijam Dewan Leikai and Tongbram Dinesh Meetei, 42, s/o T. Tiken Meetei of Bachaspati Leikai Uripok.

On spot verification Jiten disclosed that he is working under one s/s caption Irom Kumar alias Romi alias Pongba of Tera Sapam Leirak since the last 2-3 years, it said.

He also disclosed that he along with his brother in law, Tongbram Dinesh, had been transporting arms and ammunitions besides collecting money from various government officials.

Five Chinese made hand grenades with detonators, a 9mm pistol with magazine containing two live rounds were also seized from Dinesh, it said.

In the meantime, the PRO IGAR (S) has stated in a separate press release that a combined team of 36 Assam Rifles and 43 Assam Rifles arrested a cadre of the proscribed KYKL militant while conducting joint operation in the general area of Kanglatombi on November 5.

The arrested cadre has been identified as sgt Huidrom Sharat, 38, s/o Tomba Singh of Saijang, Imphal east and handed over to Sekmai Police station, it added.

On the other hand, a statement issued by the PIB Defense Wing, stated that the troops of 33 Assam Rifles of Logtak Brigade under Red Shield Division apprehended one proscribed UNLF namely s/s lance corporal Moirangthem Sanajauba Singh alias Khoiren, 25 s/o Ibohal Singh of Moirang Lamkhai Khoiru, Bishenpur from general area of Moirang Lamkhai Khoiru, today. He was involved in illegal tax collection and extortion related activities in the area of Moirang. He has been handed over to Moirang Police Station, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/11/six-militant-cadres-arrested-from-different-places/