The accused, S Ngaopuni (65), a resident of Paumai Colony, about 2km from Imphal, had sexually assaulted the victim on Thursday. The incident led to an angry outburst by the Gorkhas of the region, and when they were protesting, the police fired upon them killing two people on the spot and injuring seven. The Gorkha residents were demanding the immediate arrest of the accused and had blocked the highway when the police opened fire. The BGP has termed as “unfortunate” the decision of the Manipuri police to shoot.
BGP national spokesperson R Moktan today held a press conference to condemn the incident. Based on reports from the organisation’s unit in Manipur, Moktan said the heinous crime on the minor had infuriated the Gorkhas living in the Kanglatongbi region.
“The Gorkha residents held rallies and demonstrations to pressurise the government. The situation tensed up when the police tried to disperse the demonstrators by resorting to lathicharge, but this only added to the fury of the protesters. The police then hurled tear gas shells and eventually started shooting. While two protesters died on the spot, seven have been hospitalised and are in serious condition,” he informed.
Expressing deep concern regarding security of the Gorkhas in the north-eastern states, Moktan said incidents of sexual assault, displacement and intimidation on the community have become regular issues now. To highlight the degree of insecurity the Gorkhas living in the north-eastern states feel, Moktan cited a recent incident in Meghalaya where an underground militant organisation issued a notice threatening it would evict Gorkhas from the region.
Moktan said the BGP has been raising its voice against such incidents. He added, “These incidents, which are occurring regularly in the NE states show that the Gorkha people are not safe there. It also confirms that the governments of the states concerned are also incapable of guaranteeing security to Gorkhas.”
He said the central government must take the initiative to see that Nepali speaking people, a minority group in the NE states, get to remain safe and secure. Moktan also informed the BGP has dispatched letters to the state governments concerned on several occasions seeking security for the Gorkha people. He added the BGP will send a delegation to Delhi to hold talks with government representatives on the issue of security for the Gorkhas living in the NE states. (EOIC)