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A screengrab from a video message where Manipur’s titular King, Leishemba Sanajaoba said he first heard about the news about ‘Manipur Government in exile’ in London when he returned after attending a local function. According to Hindustan.com, he said in the message that he was “totally shocked” to hear this development. (Screengrab/Facebook)
Case registered against dissidents
Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 30
A day after two dissident leaders from the state announced the launch of the 'Manipur Government in exile' in London, Manipur’s Titular King Leishemba Sanajaoba on Wednesday has reportedly expressed shock and distanced himself from the statement.
A report by Hindustantimes.com informed that in a video message released early on October 30, Sanajaoba said he did sign some papers at the request of the duo but was told that the papers related to his “permission” to let them carry out some research into historic documents and photographs in London.
In the video message, Sanajaoba said he first heard about this news when he returned after attending a local function and he was “totally shocked” to hear this development, the report added.
Scroll.in citing a clipping of a newspaper tweeted by political activist Angellica Aribam, also reported that Sanajaoba has distanced himself from the two dissidents adding that he was “unaware of the declaration” and maintaining that the duo made him sign some documents “on the pretext of acquiring some Manipur-related documents and pictures from London.”
According to a PTI news agency report, the two dissident leaders Yamben Biren and Narengbam Samarjit addressing a press conference on October 29, claimed that they were speaking on behalf of the 'Maharaja of Manipur' to formally launch the government-in-exile -- 'The Manipur State Council'.
Biren, claiming to be the 'Chief Minister of Manipur State Council' and Samarjit, claiming to be the 'Minister of External Affairs and Defence of Manipur State Council' also produced documents to show they have been granted political asylum in the UK in August this year, the report said.
“They said after getting their asylum status in the UK, 'the de jure government is shifted from Manipur to London',” it added.
The two leaders, it further informed, said that they would make an appeal to Queen Elizabeth II and after getting an order from the Privy Council they would move the United Nations for recognition.
Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister, N Biren Singh on Wednesday strongly condemned the announcement and said a case has been registered against the duo for allegedly "waging war against the state".
Newmai News Network reported the CM as stating that as the dissidents are operating from another country, for the time being, the case would be handed over to Special Crime Branch (SCB) of the state police to investigate about Samarjit and the company and its subsidiary units related with him.
The finding of the investigation and other individuals involved in the case will be made public within a week's time, he announced.
Based on the investigation, Manipur government will consider handing over the case to National Investigation Agency (NIA) for taking up necessary legal action against the two leaders.
