In the wake of the death of a student in Heirok assembly constituency in poll-related violence, YCM wrote to the Election Commission of India.
TFM Desk
The Youth Collective Manipur (YCM), which has been campaigning for free and fair elections in Manipur, has urged the Election Commission of India to take prompt necessary action to ensure that the people of Heirok in particular and Manipur in general can freely exercise their right to franchise in the upcoming state general election.
YCM, on Thursday wrote to the ECI in the wake of the death of a student in poll-related violence in Heirok assembly constituency.
Ningthoujam Rohit (20), a student of Thoubal College, was shot dead at his residence and in front of his family. His father was also shot and he is still struggling for his life in the hospital. His surviving brother lodged a police complaint on Wednesday pointing out that the six persons, including Thokchom Putro, the brother of sitting BJP MLA of the Heirok Assembly Constituency Thokchom Radheshyam, is responsible for the killing.
However, till date no arrest has been made, YCM said in the representation.
Pointing out that this is not the first time a police complaint has been lodged on the deteriorating law and order situation in Heirok, YCM said that at least half a dozen pre-poll related violence complaints were lodged to the Heirok Police Station in the last few months. But police are reportedly remaining mere spectators to the escalating violence and there is a gripping sense of fear amongst the public as the Rule of Law has totally collapsed, it added.
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“Even though the government has issued notification to return all the licence guns, warring groups of political workers are freely moving in Heirok village with high calibre sophisticated guns, CCTV footage of which are going viral in the social media.”
Under these circumstances of escalating violence surmounting even to death of a student and the total ineffectiveness of the administration to contain the situation, YCM said it is extremely concerned at the dimming prospect of holding free and fair election in Manipur.
“We are deeply concerned with the escalating pre-poll violence in the run up to the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election. Incidents of arson, ransacking, intimidation, beating up of journalists and threatening of women including the Meira Paibi has been on the rise. Groups of masked men are reportedly roaming in the night with lethal weapons. Many had fled from their homes for fear of reprisal.”
The copy of the representation was also sent to Union Home Minister, Government of lndia; Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur; Home Minister, Government of Manipur; Director General of Police, Manipur; and Deputy Commissioner, Thoubal District.
The Youth Collective Manipur (YCM) is a group of young people across the state of Manipur campaigning for free and fair elections in Manipur.
They have been organising state wide awareness campaigns in the form of youth debates. They have also drawn up a People’s Manifesto and submitted the same to all the political parties, which was also included in the representation.