With 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly just around the corner, there has been election related scuffle within workers of intending candidates of Andro assembly constituency on Sunday, in which 24 party workers were detained but released after CM’s intervention.
The incident happened at around 5 pm and the scuffle erupted between the supporters of former Andro MLA, Th Shyamkumar and supporters of the intending candidate of Andro assembly constituency in the state assembly election, Lourembam Sanjoy.
The altercation took place near the residence of Shyamkumar in Yambem. To control the situation, personnel of Andro Police resorted to indiscriminate firing of tear gas cells. Reportedly, two vehicles, including one police vehicle got damaged in the incident. Andro Police on Monday detained 24 election workers for their involvement in the incident.
As per sources, workers of intending candidate Sanjoy on getting to know that an election related dinner cum meeting was going to be held at Shyamkumar’s residence on September 19 evening, they spread a word to the residences using loudspeakers that organising election related feast in Yambem area is banned.
At the same time, workers of Shyamkumar started arriving at his residence for the meeting, and eventually the scuffle broke out when workers of Sanjoy blocked the road in an attempt not to allow Shyamkumar entering the Yambem area for the meeting.
Meanwhile, teams of Imphal East district police and commando arrived at the scene and started firing tear gas cells to take stock of the situation. Police personnel finally managed to keep the situation under control at around 7 pm. No one sustained injury in the incident and the meeting was done in the presence of Shyamkumar.
On the other hand, United Progressive Association (UPA) alleged on Monday that the incident occurred as the former Andro MLA had gone beyond the interest of the people of Yambem area.
In a press conference held at UPA office of Andro assembly constituency, UPA secretary, Th Surjit said that any kind of meeting or dinner party related to upcoming state general election is absolutely banned in Yambem village. Workers of Shyamkumar have organised the dinner cum meeting in the area by allegedly breaking the COVID-19 SOPs.
Out of the 24 detained party workers, six were released by Andro police after being named as Shyamkumar’s workers while the remaining 18 were locked up to be presented in the court. However, after urging chief minister N Biren, they all were released unconditionally and UPA is much thankful to the CM, he added.
