IMPHAL: Several shots of gunfire were heard on Friday at Kangpokpi in Sadar Hills where Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh paid a visit to inaugurate a newly constructed office building of Additional Deputy Commissioner in the Deputy Commissioner office complex and to lay foundation stones for four SDO offices.
At about 11:30 am, several rounds of gun shots burst near Heijang range located just opposite to the Additional DC office complex at IB when the convoy of the chief minister was about to reach its destination, police said.
The police said prima facie the blank fire shots were triggered by the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) militants but added that the tattering of the gunfire, which they believed a threatening move to the chief minister’s visit, could not thwart to go ahead with his scheduled programme.
The chief minister inaugurated a new building constructed at DC office complex and also laid foundation stones for four SDO offices and another SDC circle there.
Addressing at the function, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said Sadar Hills district could be granted only after development of “adequate infrastructure” that required to a full-fledged district.
Apparently showing anger to the gunfire shots that he encountered on his way on Friday, the chief minister said “gun culture” cannot bring any solution but coming to the table is the only way out in resolving issues.
The government is making efforts to set up a separate revenue directorate for hill districts for smooth record for everyone as population will keep on growing which may make more and more complicated situation in the near future without a revenue directorate, Ibobi said. Revenue minister Th. Devendra who was accompanying the chief minister said the demands of Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) and Jiribam District Demand Committee (JDDC) are “genuine” and added that Sadar Hills district should be inaugurated before Jiribam district is given. The police said they recovered strewn of projectiles on the roof the office building of Additional DC even as some bullets smashed through the wall of the building. (NNN)