Umakanta and Thabi arrested

[suchandra]

The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 12: Revealing that TIPS functionaries L Umakanta and Y Thabi were arrested on grounds of suspicion in connection with the August 16 ISKCON temple blast and the State Government have to honour legality of the case, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh suggested the duo's freedom be secured by following bail procedures.

 

Addressing a Congress party function at GM Hall today, I Ibobi Singh, who is also in-charge of the Home portfolio expressed that the SPF Government could not intervene much in the detention of Umakanta and Thabi as the matter is under the prerogative of the legal Court.

 

Necessitated by investigation rigours and coupled with suspicion against the duo in the August 16 blast at ISKCON wherein many were killed or maimed the TIPS functionaries were arrested, said the CM and hastened to add that their detention, in no way, should be interpreted as 'involved' in the case.

 

Iterating that PR bond procedures be respected in securing release of the arrested persons, the CM further maintained that Government has no intention to put them under interrogation-related duress.

 

He, nevertheless indicated that remand of the two have been secured through the court for want of some information with regard to the ghastly ISKCON blast.

 

Apparently disagreeing with vigorous movement launched by some organisations demanding unconditional release of Umakanta and Thabi, the chief Minister recalled similar circumstances complicating arrest of two persons from kairang area in connection with the then disappearance of Sub-Inspector Kumar.

 

Apart from levelling charges of inefficiency against the SPF Government to questioning existence of the State's Home Department for inability to trace SI Kumar or track down the guilty, subsequent detention of the kairang duo even evoked strong reaction from the local representative demanding their release, reminded the CM.

 

However, all such premature accusations hurled upon the Government soon dissipated after public came to know that they (Kairang duo) had confessed during interrogation of involvement in burying Kumar's body, Ibobi said.

 

Explaining his comment, the CM refrained to make a similar conclusion saying that the Court concerned had offered Umakanta and Thabi to furnish PR Bonds to evade imprisonment.

 

While affirming that in case the TIPS duo are found innocent their case chapter would be closed, Ibobi however, wondered why the bail condition could not be endorsed willingly by them.

 

Confiding that even the Governor is strongly concerned on how the State could function properly amid bandhs, blockades and strikes of all form crippling normal chores for nearly 20 days in a month, he also categorically described the agitation/demands of aided-college teachers as 'unreasonable'.

 

The CM fervently appealed to the teachers to return back to the classroom rather than waste invaluable time or attempt to create problem.

 

Indicating reluctance to consider demand for 20 percent reservation of Muslim candidates in Government jobs and in higher studies, the Cm said Government need to follow prescriptions regarding relevant act or law on the reservation issue, study provisions on this matter by other States instead of conceding demands without proper and detailed assessment.

 

Stating that the Government is closely perusing recommendations of the OBC Commission in order to omit or amend related act/rules, O Ibobi called upon the agitation sponsors to suspend the ongoing stir not only in the interest of the minority community but also to enable the Government make a decisive decision.

 

meanwhile, City police personnel thwarted an attempt to burn effigy of the Chief Minister in front of the police station today.

 

even as the security personnel were busy snatching the effigy, banners and other inflammable materials from the agitators, most of whom comprised of women activists, some of the protestors squatted at the police station gate demanding they be court arrested.

 

The protestors were demanding unconditional release of Umakanta and Thabi.

 

On the other hand, AMSU and Popular Youth Club (Khangabok-III) joined other organisations in demanding unconditional and immediate release of the TIPS duo.