Imphal West district Superintendent of Police K Meghachandra on Tuesday alleged MPS Th Brinda and two others violated lockdown guidelines, obstructed the functioning of the frontline workers and failed to cooperate by concealing information on her travel routes and contact persons.
A release signed by the SP, Imphal West stated that at about 10.20 pm Monday, SP Kakching informed SP Imphal West that a white Creta car bearing registration number MN01G 3839 was stopped for checking at Kakching near Kakching bazaar by a team of Kakching police station.
In that, a lady occupant identified herself as Additional SP and drove away before proper verification was conducted.Accordingly, SP Kakching district and her control room requested the SP to alert at all district boundaries, it stated.
As such, the control room and night duty officers of Imphal West were alerted at important police checkpoints. After that, at around 12:50 am Tuesday, the vehicle was spotted at Sangaiprou area of Imphal West under Lamphel PS by a night patrol team of women police, it stated.
When the police team tried to verify in view of the strict lockdown measures as per the order of the government, the occupants did not give cooperation, the release alleged.
Three occupants were found inside the vehicle which used tinted glass, it stated. They refused to give details of their travel, purpose of travel etc and they showed a hostile attitude. Accordingly, additional SP was called in and after about an hour, the police team was allowed to check the vehicle, it added.
Thounaojam Brinda, wife of RK Chinglen of Yaiskul Janmasthan, Imphal West; Phairembam Sonia, wife of Chanambam Ibungo of Bishnupur Ward No VII and Huidrom Anil Singh, son of Huidrom Nabakumar of Wangkhei Laishram Leikai were the occupants of the vehicle, it stated.
“The three persons did not disclose the places they travelled and purpose of their visit properly. After much persuasion, Sonia revealed that she and Brinda picked up Huidrom Anil at around 6 pm Monday from his house and drove towards Irilbung, Ngarian Hills, Yairipok Imphal East, Yairipok (Thoubal part) Thoubal bazaar, Khongjom, Kakching, Kakching Khunou, Wangoo Bishnupur district, and then to Imphal West district from Nambol side,” it stated.
Sonia stated that they offered prayers at Thangjing temple at around midnight, the release added.
“However, they did not disclose where they went in between as they took considerable time to cover the distance. The objective was to verify if they have visited any person in the containment zones particularly in the five districts they have visited yesterday,” the release stated.
“However, they did not disclose the information and Brinda also objected to the removal of tinted films from her vehicle,” it stated. Finally, a challan was issued to her and she left at about 2.30 am, it added.
The release stated that after Brinda left, it iwas learned that Sonia is the wife of ex-KYKL cadre, who surrendered to the government and now serving in the Manipur Police as Havildar and staying at the family line of 1st Manipur Rifles.
There is no explanation on how they took about four hours to cover from Imphal East to Kakching which can be covered in hardly one and half hours. They must have visited some persons in the district worst hit by COVID-19, it stated.
From her accounts, Brinda freely roamed around in five districts with her friends in a most irresponsible manner, the release further alleged.
Now, the family line of 1st MR is declared a containment area as one personnel, his wife and child tested positive, it mentioned.
“The quarter of Ph Sonia is now in the containment area. It shows how vulnerable the activities of the three persons, including Th Brinda, are and how irresponsibly they acted. There is a high chance of the spread of the pandemic if such careless and irresponsible activities are continued,” it stated.
Unfortunately, there are some people who justify such activities particularly in social media platforms such as Facebook and undermine the efforts of the government and its agencies, including the frontline workers. Such a negative approach will encourage the violators and discourage the agencies and frontline workers combating COVID-19, it stated.
“The general public is requested to refrain from such irresponsible activities and give cooperation to the various agencies, including the frontline workers, who are working tirelessly round the clock for the last four months by risking their lives,” the SP added in the release.
