Imphal| December 17 : Several bursts of gunfire were heard today at Kangpokpi in Sadar Hills where Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh paid a visit to inaugurate a newly constructed office building of Additional Deputy Commissioner in the Deputy Commissioner office complex and also to lay foundation stones for four SDO offices.
At about 11:30 am, several rounds of loud gunfire started bursting near Heijang range located just opposite to the Additional DC office complex at IB when the convoy of the chief minister was about to reach its destination, police said.
The police said prima facie the blank fire shots were triggered by the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) militants but further said the tattering of the gunfire, which they believed a threatening move to the chief minister’s visit, could not thwart to go ahead with his scheduled programme.
The chief minister inaugurated a new building constructed at DC office complex and also laid foundation stones for four SDO offices and another SDC circle there.
Addressing at the function, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said Sadar Hills district could be granted only after development of “adequate infrastructure” that required to a full-fledged district.
Apparently showing anger to the gunfire shots that he encountered on his way today, the chief minister said “gun culture” cannot bring any solution but coming to the table is the only way out in resolving issues.
The government is making efforts to set up a separate revenue directorate for hill districts for smooth record for everyone as population will keep on growing which may make more and more complicated situation in the near future without a revenue directorate, Ibobi said.
Revenue minister Th. Devendra who was accompanying the chief minister said the demands of Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) and Jiribam District Demand Committee (JDDC) are “genuine” and added that Sadar Hills district should be inaugurated before Jiribam district is given.
Meanwhile, the gunfire which police said an undesired disruption stopped just as the chief minister team left Kangpokpi.
The police said they recovered strewn of projectiles on the roof the office building of Additional DC even as some bullets smashed through the wall of the building. No one was injured in the firing, they added.
KRA claims responsiblity
Imphal, December 17 (NNN): The Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) Saturday claimed responsibility for the gun fire incident at Kangpokpi that happened during the visit of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh where he inaugurated an office building of Additional Deputy Commissioner. KRA publicity secretary P. Simte while informing Newmai News Network this evening clarified that the gun fire shots were triggered by the militant group to protest the change of office location of SDO and it was not opposing the visit of the chief minister.
Sadar Hills Disricthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) and the Government of Manipur are working in the interest of just one particular clan in their attempt to solve the Sadar Hills issue, Simpte alleged. He said, “KRA does not oppose to the much expected inauguration of Sadar Hills district and we are indeed demanding a speedy resolution of the issue to facilitate its inauguration at the earliest possible.”
Simte also said KRA and all the communities in Sadar Hills by and large have boycotted the inauguration of the newly built sub-division office at a new location. But he said only one clan among the communities accepted it. The SDC Kangchup Chingkhong has been upgraded to SDO and transferred to P. Golyang village, the Chalwa SDC to Tujanwaichong village and Kangpokpi SDO to Champhai village, he further said. KRA wants to keep the offices where they were before, Simte said, adding that the militant group has been working hard for the betterment of all the communities.
