Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh tells the Assembly that Village Volunteers and Arambai Tenggol are not banned organisations and cases will be reviewed individually.
Imphal, Sept 7: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Monday clarified that Village Volunteers in the hills and valley, as well as Arambai Tenggol, have not been declared banned organisations by the state government.
The Chief Minister made the statement during a short-duration discussion moved by Opposition MLA K Ranjit Singh in the Manipur Legislative Assembly on the involvement of individuals in unlawful and criminal activities following the violence that began on May 3, 2023.
Khemchand stated that the prolonged crisis had compelled many youths to take up arms. While some may have joined with what they considered legitimate intentions, he noted that others could have become involved in criminal activities.
He clarified that the government had not banned either Village Volunteers or Arambai Tenggol and that Manipur Police had not registered cases against individuals merely on the basis of their affiliation with these groups.
According to the Chief Minister, arrests made during the crisis were based on alleged criminal activities of individuals rather than their association with any particular organisation.
Government reviewing individual criminal cases
Khemchand also stated that the government cannot simply withdraw criminal cases registered against individuals during the crisis.
He explained that cases involving individuals would have to be examined separately and that the process would take time.
The Chief Minister acknowledged that the morale of the Manipur Police had declined following the violence that erupted in May 2023. He stated that the police force had been strong in the past and that the government was now working to strengthen it.
Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, who also participated in the discussion, reaffirmed a government decision taken in 2024 concerning prosecution of individuals allegedly involved in the crisis.
Govindas Konthoujam stated that individuals who were not involved in heinous crimes such as attacks on security forces, extortion, murder or other criminal activities would not be prosecuted under the government's stated policy.
He described protecting youths who were not involved in such serious offences as a responsibility of the government.
Home Minister rejects allegation of harassment
The Home Minister further stated that individual cases would be examined by the government and rejected allegations from the Opposition that youths were being harassed by the police.
Govindas Konthoujam maintained that police were not harassing individuals merely on allegations of involvement in the crisis.
He also informed the Assembly that the Chief Minister had instructed the authorities concerned to release, after questioning, individuals named in suo motu cases registered by different investigating agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), at the earliest possible opportunity.
The statements came during Assembly discussions on the government's approach towards cases involving individuals accused of unlawful activities during the prolonged crisis.
