Foul cry raised against Mayai Lambi killing, talks fail
JAC lines up stir
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 21 2009: Talks between the JAC constituted against the killing of Waikhom Kennedy and Thokchom Samarjit and Chief Minister O Ibobi held this afternoon failed to arrive at any understanding.

W Kennedy and Th Samarjit were killed in a reported encounter with a combined team of Imphal West police commandos and troops of 12 Maratha Light Infantry at an isolated area in Uchiwa along Mayai Lambi under Mayang Imphal police station yesterday afternoon.

Dharna staged against the killing of Kennedy and Samarjit

Decrying the twin killing, a public meeting was held this morning at Thoubal where a JAC was constituted.

Subsequently, the JAC called on the Chief Minister pressing a charter of demands.

Contending that the two slain individuals were innocent civilians, the foremost demands of the JAC included befitting punishment to the guilty security personnel according to law and institution of a judicial enquiry.

The memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister mentioned that there would be no more talks with the Government nor the corpses would be claimed in case the demands of the JAC are not put into action by 9 am of June 22.The JAC would also be launching several forms of agitation, it added.

The Chief Minister after perusing the demands of the JAC, said that there were several difficulties in conducting a judicial enquiry besides taking the long time involved.

Ibobi cited the cases of Satish and Krishnadas saying that judicial enquiries were demanded in those cases too.

Nevertheless, he assured the JAC members that he would look into the possibility of an enquiry by a committee headed by a State police officer.

The memorandum further demanded the money and documents taken by W Kennedy for admission of his younger sister, his mobile handset, gold-chain and finger-ring be returned.

Another demand put up by the JAC was repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from all over Manipur.

Though the demand for repeal of AFSPA was not talked about much, the Chief Minister after taking information from the Imphal West SSP, informed the JAC members that three mobile handsets, two gold rings, one talisman ring, a wallet containing Rs 9000 in cash and documents for admission have been recovered.

To the disclosure of the Chief Minister that one commando personnel was also injured in the shoot-out, the JAC members enquired whether they could meet the injured commando personnel.

At this, the Chief Minister directed the JAC members to go to the SSP.

At the office of the SSP, the JAC members met a commando personnel whose right wrist has been reportedly pierced through by a bullet.

The JAC would call on the Chief Minister for another round of talk at 11 am tomorrow.