Unknown miscreants burn office properties of Executive Officer (Town), District Council Administration

Unknown miscreants reportedly vandalised office properties of the Executive Officer (Town) under the District Council Administration, Churachandpur, located at Hiangtam, Lamka, on Tuesday.

In a widely circulated video, the miscreants are seen vandalising office property and setting fire to other materials. As seen in the video, tables and chairs were set ablaze. The front glass of a vehicle parked inside the office premises was also destroyed.

According to witnesses, a group of men entered the office around 2 p.m., took out office materials such as chairs and tables, and set them on fire.

Police stated that the incident likely occurred between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., as they received information about it around 3 p.m. According to the police, no complaint has been filed by the district council office to date. The reason behind the vandalism and the identities of the miscreants have yet to be determined.

It is worth mentioning that the state government had recently order transfer and posting of different state government officials in Manipur.

As per the order the CEO/ ADC Churachandpur Lalthazam was transferred and given a new place of posting at ADC Pherzawl while  ADC Kangpokpi and SDO/ BDO Kangpokpi Sokhongam Baite replaced Lalthazam as CEO/ADC Churachandpur.

Kuki Students Organisation, Churachandpurm Hmar Students Association and Zomi Students Federation wrote to the chief minister of Manipur on Marchg 29 stating that the recent appointment of a new CEO / ADC, Churachandpur has caused immense frustration and will be strongly opposed by the student bodies in the district.

The letter stated that the student bodies of the district oppose the fact that an Officer posted in another district who does not understand local dynamics nor has a relationship with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has been appointed to an important post such as this.

Further, the working of the Autonomous District Council (ADC) under the previous CEO had been flawless and any change in the post may lead to disruptions of the same, the letter added.

The student bodies stated that they have jointly resolved to oppose the said appointment and to fight for retention of the previous CEO. “Should the recent appointment not be reversed and the previous CEO not retained, stern and different forms of protest will be taken up by the student bodies of the district”, stated the letter.