Hmar organizations in Barak Valley demand judicial inquiry

FROM OUR Correspondent

Silchar, June 13: The death of an 8 year old girl Esther Lalramfel in an unfortute truck accident at Chamertol, Hmarkhwalien, Juganj Hills under Lakhipur police station on June 2 last at 2.30pm led to a chaotic situation since police failed to stop the speeding truck as well as its driver. The accident took place at a police check post when the truck ran over the girl and sped away. Two constables followed the truck on their motorcycles but failed to arrest the driver. The girl was a meritorious student of KG II standard at 438 Hmar LP School.

 In this regard, they have addressed a letter to the Chief Minister of Assam through the sub divisiol officer (Civil), Lakhipur, regarding their demand for both judicial and magistrate inquiry into the matter. A meeting was convened by the village authority and a Peace Monitoring Committee (PMC) comprising all the Hmar Organizations in Barak Valley. Their demands comprise an amount of Rs.10 lakhs compensation be provided to the victim’s family, truck driver should be arrested within 24 hours and to repair work of 3 churches, private houses, a total number of 30 vehicles which include 4 wheeler and 2 wheeler damaged by the police and CRPF personnel.

 The letter has been signed by Pastor Zahninglo, secretary and Abraham L Keivom, chairman of the Peace Monitoring Committee, Hamrkhwalien. A retired army officer Lalkhum Hmar (65) along with his wife Lallienmawri Hmar (63) and nephew Erie Thieks (7), a student of Convent School was beaten up badly. Even a handicapped person was not spared. Ruoltinkhum (38), son of Johan Petu was also beaten up. Moreover, 20 persons were arrested in this connection.  A copy of the letter has been sent to the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Cachar, Dilip Kumar Paul, Deputy Speaker of Assam Assembly, MP Sushmita Dev, MLA Rajdeep Goala, SDPO, Lakhipur and Uday Shankar Goswami, district president, BJP, Silchar.

 It has been mentioned in the letter that the police and the CRPF personnel also beat men and women. In this regard, they have demanded that the police and CRPF personnel should be arrested and suspended immediately. They have demanded that proper medical treatment and necessary compensation should be provided to the arrested persons and the injured ones. They have also mentioned immediate curbing of illegal collection of money along NH 37 within Hmarkhawlien area. A press-meet was also held by Lalhriet Hmar, general secretary, Joint Action Committee (Public Right) and Thanga Hmar, vice president, Joint Action Committee (Public Right) at Hmarkhawlien recently.

They have mentioned that if their demands are not fulfilled, a series of agitations and protests will erupt. They will block Manipur Road and stage protest-demonstration infront  of the office of the SDO (Civil). Talking to the scribe regarding the incidence of June 2, Rakesh Roushan, IPS, Superintendent of Police, Cachar, said, “People were getting out of control. Things were getting worse, so I rushed to the spot and took the charge. We had to resort to violence since there was no other way left. They injured 8 police personnel severely and also damaged a police vehicle along with other public vehicles. The decision of the 20 arrested persons lies with the Court. Churches were not at all vandalized by the police. It is absurd. Police will never pelt stones at Churches and break its windowpanes. Police had to use force to disperse the angry mob. They would have attacked the Additiol Superintendent of Police.”