Rights activist Babloo assaulted, HRA decries

Imphal, January 12: The Human Rights Alert, HRA has strongly condemned the assault of Babloo Loitongbam, Executive Director, HRA by CRPF personnel deployed at the SBI main branch, M Avenue today morning. In a statement, the HRA said that when Babloo went to the bank this morning, the security personnel objected to his carrying a digital diary inside the bank. Babloo?s reasoning that such harmless electronic equipment is allowed everywhere cut no ice with the CRPF men. Babloo then offered to leave the diary with the security personnel but this was also turned down on the ground that they cannot take responsibility. The statement further said that Babloo was assaulted on the charge that he abused the CRPF men even though all that he said in Manipuri was that the whole thing was so childish. The rights activist was kicked and the security personnel rains blows on him. Fortunately one SBI employee intervened and retrained the CRPF personnel. Ironically after this incident Babloo was allowed to take the diary inside the bank. The CRPF men were led by a havildar. A formal complaint has been lodged with the City police station.