Deputy Speaker not a militant but an accused: Singh

Shillong, Aug 3 (UNI) Newly elected Deputy Speaker of Manipur Assembly Th Shyamkumar is ''not a militant'' but a politician, said Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh here today.

''He was just an accused, as he was arrested together with the other two UNLF militants,'' Mr Singh told reporters.

''How can an arrested person, alleged to be a militant, assumed the second top-post of the temple of democracy?'' said he.

Delhi Police arrested the newly elected Deputy Speaker on October 2 from Indira Gandhi International airport along with two senior militant leaders of the proscribed United National Liberation Front, while they were about to board a flight to Nepal.

Shyamkumar contested the February Manipur Assembly from high security Tihar jail located in the national capital and won the election from Andro constituency of Imphal East with the highest margin of over 18, 000 votes.

The Chief Minister also said Mr Kumar was unanimously elected as Deputy Speaker after the Opposition parties requested the ruling coalition government for a unanimous candidate for the post.

UNI