Imphal, July 17 2009: The Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has announced to shorten its ongoing 120 hours general strike to 72 hours.

Accordingly, the general strike will end by midnight of July 18 .

Announcing this in a release, publicity and propaganda secretary of DESAM, KC Ibomcha stated that the general strike is shortened to 72 hours taking into consideration the academic career of students who are going to take the BOSEM and CBSE examinations and the sufferings of the people.

KC Ibomcha stated that the decision was taken by a high level meeting of the students' body after due deliberation on the sufferings of the people.

At the same time, reiterating its demand to produce a white paper on the killing of Prof Islamuddin, the DESAM statement has also washed off its hands on the killing.

Urging the government to avert sparks of protest movement, DESAM has also demanded the government to release the arrested students under NSA unconditionally.

The statement pointed out that the detention of students under NSA is not justifiable.

It alleged that the students were not detained under NSA in connection with the killing of Prof Islamuddin, but due to other reasons.

Pointing out that the arrested students were charge-sheeted on different charges, it also asserted that the students were arrested in order to impose a ban on the students' body.

It alleged the government of arresting people without any reason while adding that the government is not people's government but that of oligarchy, that serves the interest of few individuals.

It wonders why the students were booked under NSA when other people who were arrested in connection with killings were never to be booked under the NSA.

The DESAM statement charged the government of compelling the students' body to resort to impose general strike knowingly in its attempt to defame DESAM in the eyes of the people.

It also observed that the efforts of the well-educated police officers, who went on to campaign that DESAM has called off the general strike following an understanding with the government, were mean to add sufferings to the people.

The statement also categorically asked why the government is not making in public as to how the students were involved in the killing of Prof Islamuddin while pointing out that the government is inviting chaos for which the government is to be held responsible.

Where have the government kept the record of information that it has extracted from an involved IRB man?, it asked.

The DESAM statement also held the ruling MLAs of conniving with the government for neglecting to find the truth in Prof Islamuddin's killing case.

The statement also cautioned the people to refrain from those people and not to trust the concocted statement of the CM.

KC Ibomcha pointed out that on the day when Prof Islamuddin was killed (May 25), important members of the students' body including A Thoithoi � who has been detained under NSA � were attending a leadership training at ICM office, Lamphelpat from 10am to 2pm.It then asked why the students' leader has been accused of involving in the crime.