DIMAPUR, December 22(Newmai News Network): Breaking its silence on the December 18 Chandel incident where Manipuri film actress Momoko was allegedly molested by an NSCN-IM cadre, the latter outfit said today that it is a matter regret and concern that a small incident that took place during a musical concert in Chandel has been blown out of proportion.
The NSCN-IM said the outfit is all the more concern for the NSCN-IM when certain forces have sensationalized the incident giving highly explosive communal color without taking into account what was the source of the spark that set off fire work during the concert. “It is alleged that the actual incident started when actress Momoco made a provocative gesture against the Nagas which infuriated the whole Nagas and Lieutenant Col.Livingstone allegedly slapped the actress in a fit of anger. Nevertheless, NSCN is not taking the matter lightly and if Lieu Col Livingstone is found guilty of crime against the human dignity and morality of the actress the law of NSCN/GPRN will take its own course and befitting punishment given as per the nature of the crime committed,” the NSCN-IM said.
“It is however, bewildering to observe that highly motivated show of protest creating communal tension is given free hand. Going further it is shameless for the communal Manipur government to have taken up in the Manipur Assembly simply to magnify the matter. The public in Chandel as a whole has therefore been victimized with mental torture and other inconveniences particularly during this festive Christmas season. Such hue and cry reaction over such small incident both by the Meitei public and the communal government is absolutely unwarranted and something that has gone too far. Rational exercise of mind and impartial judgment of the incident is found to be totally absent.
“The CAO of Khurmi Region also expresses regret over the incident. He however has requested the higher authority of NSCN to enquire into the incident on urgent basis to pinpoint who is the culprit and who deserved what action,” the NSCN-IM added.