The house of Indian National Congress (INC) MLA, Sugnu Assembly constituency, Kangujam Ranjit, along with over 200 houses belonging to the Meitei community, were set on fire by suspected Kuki militants at Serou in Kakching district on Friday night, sources said.
As per the sources, the armed Kuki militants came from Chingphai village towards Serou village by firing several rounds of gunshots. They burned down the houses located at Serou Mamang Leikai and Serou Mayai Leikai, the sources said.
MLA Ranjit was among the four MLAs, who were detained at the Sugnu Bazar Mahila Congress building, by irate locals on Friday. The four MLAs are K Ranjit Singh of Sugnu AC, Yumnam Radheshyam of Hiyanglam AC, Usham Deben of Wabagai AC, M Rameshwar Singh of Kakching AC.
According to the sources, four detained MLAs left for Imphal at around 2 am on Friday night.
Led by MAHUD Minister Y Khemchand, they had gone to Sugnu to take stock of the situation on Friday. They listened to the grievances of the villagers who questioned them why the 50 MLAs failed to make their stance when the10 MLAs made their demand for a ‘separate administration’.
The villagers demanded the MLAs to withdraw SoO with Kuki militants and remove Assam Rifles post from Sugnu area. They expressed their disappointment to the MLAs that during a recent gunfight between state commando, villagers of Sugnu and Kuki militants, the Assam Rifles of Sugnu remained a silent spectator.
Following the demand of the public, minister Khemchand made a phone call to CM Biren Singh, putting it on loud speaker, and elaborated on the demands of the public.
During the telephonic conversation, CM Biren said that he will consult with authorities concerned to start the process of removing the Assam Rifle post. He also advised the minister to come with representatives of Sugnu village at his Secretariat office for a meeting regarding the issue.
However, the villagers declined the proposal of the chief minister, and stood firm on their demands.
To interact with the people of Sugnu, the four MLAs were put at the Congress Mahila Office located at Sugnu bazaar while MAHUD minister Y Khemchand Singh returned to Imphal.
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