Congress MLA K Meghachandra has termed the process of selecting candidates for gallantry awards an “abuse of power” and alleged that the winning candidates were cherry-picked to serve their political bosses of the BJP.

Briefing mediapersons through an online video, he said the announcement of the awards has become a mockery of itself, and an abuse of the whole process of selection on merit. The CM's gallantry award to one sub inspector Bheishamayum Debson Singh of Manipur Police from Yaiskul assembly constituency has opened up a political can of worms and it has led to detection of those in the police department, who are accused of being involved in drugs crimes in the state, he added.

Meghachandra further said, the Congress demanded Zou case to be transferred to CBI and initiate investigation into the recent Luwanshangbam case where IRB personnel were allegedly involved. The gallantry awards were issued by the state Home department in the name of the governor.

He said, the state Home department and its intelligence department have failed in finding the antecedents and records of the awardees. Even in the Manipur Legislative Assembly, the Congress has been demanding for an effective fight against drugs. He questioned what the government and Home department, including its intelligence has been doing. He also enquired whether the state government has been running the law enforcement agencies by taking inputs only from the public since its intelligence has apparently failed.

He further raised questions on the credentials and credibility of the other remaining awardees in the police. There is no hope left from the present BJP government in Manipur in the so-called ‘War against Drugs,’ said Meghachandra.