Shillong, Feb 8: The National People’s Party (NPP) is constrained to draw the attention of the media on the ongoing intimidation and abuse being exercised in a targeted manner by several militant outfits in Manipur against the party and its candidates in different constituencies.
The outfits namely.., KNF-MC, KNF-Z, UKLF, KNA, HPC (D) have openly come out in blatant support of our opponent’s candidates from BJP and NPF. In 55-Tipaimukh AC, the cadres of militant outfits HPC (D) is moving around with arms intimidating the voters and village chiefs to vote for BJP candidates.
The underground group like KNA and UKLF under Suspension of Operation (SOO) is threatening our party workers and village chief to support BJP candidate Shri. Letpao Haokip at 42 – Tengnoupal AC.
At Tamenglong constituency, outfits under SOO are campaigning strongly for NPF and BJP candidates. The outfit has warned our party workers with dire consequences. On February 6, the KNF-MC and KNF-Z leaders Paokholen Haokip, Jangkhonlum Haokip and Lunmang Haokip have threatened our workers and village chief to vote for BJP candidate Shri. Letzamang Haokip of 57-Henglep AC.
The outfit members had halted six women NPP workers and two drivers at Lamden Kuki village and threatened to shoot them if they campaign for NPP candidate. We have complained about the incidents of attacks and threats issued to our candidates to Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur State and to Election Commission of India.
The ongoing situation is an attempt to jeopardise the conduct of peaceful, free and fair election in the State of Manipur. National People’s Party believes in the democratic process and would like to urge the Election Commission of India to ensure that the election in the State of Manipur is conducted in a free and fair manner.
If the ongoing situation is allowed to prevail, where militant and underground outfits are moving around openly with arms, the electorates will fear and would not come out to vote, which will directly hamper the conduct of elections.
Therefore, the National People’s Party would like to urge the authorities to put all underground groups under SOO in their respective camps and recover arms from their possession. We would also like to urge that all constituencies, which has presences of UGs be declared ‘MOST SENSITIVE’ and additional security is provided in the constituencies for conduct of fair election process.
The NPP also urge that adequate security cover is provided to our candidates, who are contesting the election from different parts of the State. It is to be mentioned that security cover for our sitting MLAs namely Shri. Y. Erabot Singh from Wangkhei AC has been reduced, we demand that enough security cover is provided to him.
