Govt Discards The Carrots For The Sticks, Wanted Tag On Blockade Leaders Cash prize of Rs 1 lakh awaits informers, 21st Century Judas

IMPHAL, Jun 7(TSE) : With the patience of the Government running out, to quote Union Home Secretary GK Pillai at Shillong a few days back, the State Government has finally decided to opt for the stick rather than the carrot and deal firmly with the leaders behind the indefinite total blockade.
Towards this end the State Government today issued a circular proclaiming the Acting President of the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur, Samson Remmei and Acting President of the United Naga Council, David Choro as Wanted Men and announced a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh each, to whoever provides information leading to their arrest or extend help in arresting them.
This is perhaps the first time that a cash award has been announced for the arrest of a student leader and comes close on the heels of the Union Home Secretary GK Pillai announcing in Shillong that the patience of the Government is running out over the total boycott on the two National Highways for more than 55 days.
ANSAM, solidly backed by the UNC first imposed the economic blockade on April 11 in protest against the election to the ADCs under the 3rd Amendment of 2008.
With the Government sticking to its stand, the economic blockade was later 'upgraded' to a total blockade including all inter-State passenger buses.
The genesis of the State Government swinging into action can be traced to a PIL filed by a gentleman challenging the validity or legality of the indefinite bloc- kade.
The High Court, accordingly took up the case and after summoning DGP Y Joykumar had instructed him to arrest the leader/s of ANSAM.
Significantly UNC was not named in the PIL filed by the gentleman.
The Wanted tag as well as the cash prize for the arrest of the two said leaders was issued today, after the DGP assured the High Court that he would produce the respondents within ten days time, a couple of days back.
Efforts to contact leaders of the United Naga Council for their comments on the latest development drew a blank. ANSAM leaders also refused to comment on the matter at the moment, though what may happen in the next few days remains to be seen.
However the Senapati based, the powerful and influential Naga Peoples' Organisation has made it known that it is not at all pleased with the order of the Government.
"There is no logic in the stand of the Government of Manipur and it is upto their wisdom to decide whether they want to complicate the the matter more or bring about an amiable solution," said the NPO president M Dili Mao. According to the circular issued by the DGP today, ANSAM Acting President David, aged about 38 years is a resident of Makhan village in Senapati district while the Acting President of UNC, Samson Remmei is a resident of Chingmeirong Kabui Khul.

ANSAM, UNC presidents declared 'Wanted'

IMPHAL, June 7(IFP): Two key functionaries of the United Naga Council and All Naga Students Association Manipur have been declared 'wanted' persons with cash reward of rupees one lakh each on their heads.

The state DGP Y Joykumar, today declared Samson Remmei, president of the UNC and David Choro, president ANSAM as 'wanted' persons and sought cooperation and help from the general public in pursuit of the two fugitives. Any person/individual giving information/tips leading to the arrest of the two Naga civil bodies leaders will be rewarded with Rs 1 lakh, a release of the DGP said today.

Mention may be made that David Choro aged about 38 years son of late Adani of Makhan Village, Senapati district, acting president of ANSAM and Samsom Remei, aged about 50 years son of Meikupao Remei of Chingmeirong Kabui Khul, acting president of UNC are leaders of the Naga organisations which have imposed the economic blockade along the National Highways.

The state police chief's proclamation comes close on the heels of the assurance given by the DGP to the Guwahati High Court (imphal Bench) on June 4 before a double bench sitting of Justice Nandakumar and M Binoy that necessary steps will be taken to declare David Choro a wanted person within a week's time.

Following the assurance given by the DGP the court gave 10 days to the Manipur Police for the arrest and producing of the offenders before the court within June 16.

The court on two occasions issued directives to the government as to why it had failed to take up action against the organisations which have imposed economic blockade along the National Highways of the state since April 6 under the National Highway Authority Act, 1988.

Mention may be made that a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Gauhati High Court, Imphal bench by a person against imposition of the economic blockade.

After hearing the plea on the PIL, a double bench sitting of the Gauhati High Court directed the Manipur DGP to produce the ANSAM president before the same court.