New Delhi/ Imphal: After the attack on Madrasa students in the national capital, another incident of brutal assault on Muslim boys now reported from North East state Manipur who were shifted to a hospital in Guwahati in critical condition. However, it is wondering that the state government-led by Congress did not initiate any action against the culprits till date.
According reports, on March 25, 2016 at around 7:30 pm in the evening, Sanasam Thoi Singh, Mamang Leikai, Sorokhaibam Romen Singh, S.Modhu Singh, Gunamani Singh (Thang saba) along with others have brutally beaten up six Muslim boys with deadly weapons while they were going to see ‘ Thabal Chong ba’ (Holi). One of the boys Shazad Aalam, who escaped from the scene, informed his brother Farid khan about the attack in which Md. Altaf Hussain, Iqbal Hussain, Shoib Akhter, Shazad Aalam, Thani Alam and Farid khan were injured. They are students of class IX in Slopland public school, Khongjom and in Five Star English School.
According to him,on the day of Thabal Chongba( Holi Day), when the boys approach to Thabal Chongba Ground, they were stopped abruptly and asked where they were going. When they said they come to watch Thabal Chongba, they were subjected to brutal beating while local people remained silent spectators as nobody came forward to rescue the boys who were left critically injured.
When Farid along with Thani tried to save their three accomplices, they were also attacked by the culprits who wanted to set them on fire. Some people including a member of Zilla Parisad tried to reach the spot but the culprits stopped them by gun shots. Later, the pradhan of Iramsiphai reported the Wangoi police and they rescued the boys. Yet, the culprits have not been booked so far. The culprits alleged that the boys have stolen a bike. However, the said bike belonged to Farid Khan. The police seized the bike from them and kept in their custody. Three of the victims are being treating in Rahman hospital in Assam.
Manipur State’s Popular Front of India General Secretary, Muhammad Riyaz informed over the phone that the two communities i.e. Hindus and Pangals( Muslims), have been living in peace and harmony in the localities. Their localities are divided by a small river which is connected with a bridge. A score of people from the Hindu community use to earn their livelihood coming at a nearby place called Lilong Dam Bazar and its surroundings which are only populated by Muslim community. The boys belonged to this place.
Riyaz further stated that local MLAs from both the communities as well as the Chief Minister did not utter a single word on the incident and initiate any actions against the culprits.
Popular Front leader urged the Manipur Government to take punitive actions against those persons who were involved in brutal assault on the students and check the growing communal violence in the state. It also demanded that the government should provide adequate compensation to the injured students who are now undergoing treatment at Rahaman Hospital, Guwahati in Assam.
Riyaz said in recent years Manipur witnessed rise in communal incidents on a large scale as one of the reasons is that the youths are being pushed into communal activities.