Imphal, November 02 2008: One survivor of the October 23 arson committed by KLO/KLA cadres at Lahorijan, Assam in which two passengers were charred to death has negated the possibility of communal ill-feelings to be behind the criminal act.

The incident is being investigated by a Fact Finding Committee comprising of an IGP and a Commissioner of State Government.

One Thongbam Madhav who was a passenger of the inter-State bus burnt down by KLO/KLA cadres conjectured that the arson was aimed at threatening the bus owner or transporters' association in the most extreme manner as a result of an impasse between the two sides.

Speaking to media persons at Langol Tarung today, Madhav disclosed that the unidentified persons never told them to get down from the bus before torching it.

As the bus caught fire from the front side (cabin) where the exit door was, none of the passengers could make their way out.

Left with no other option, they smashed the window panes and crawled out, he recounted.

But Robert Golmei (31) of Sangrungpung village, Tamenglong district and his mother-in-law Ginthailiu Gonmei (58) of Chaiba village, Churachandpur district could not escape the fire and were charred to death.

Recalling the incident, the survivors conveyed that the attack appeared to be a pre-planned one.

They also decried the act of the driver stopping the vehicle there for about 30 minutes waiting for a single passenger.

Had the driver not stopped there and drove ahead without waiting for the passenger, they would not have suffered the gruesome attack, the survivors lamented.

During the press meet, many families members of the victims expressed strong words of condemnation.

"The hurt sentiment of the family members caused by the death of two beloved family members was deepened all the more and broke everybody's heart when they saw the charred and badly deformed bodies", said Robert's elder brother Athui Golmei.

Observing that both the Governor and the Chief Minister maintained stoic silence on the matter, Athui also lamented that none of the influential civil society organisations have done anything for the victims.

He further blamed travel agents for several errors.

"We can forget anything and forgive all but the incident will remained etched in our minds until and unless the Government establish road protection force and the KLO/KLA come to an agreement under the Rongmei customary law", said Achungmei, daughter of Ginthailu.

Taking part in the press meet, joint secretary of Zeliangrong Youth Front Imphal Zone, Rejoyce asserted that the attack on the innocent passengers was aimed at disuniting Manipur.

Expressing his desire to settle the matter according to Zeliangrong customary law, he hinted that civil organisations, particularly Kuki Inpi and the KSO, should take proactive roles towards bringing a negotiated settlement with the KLO/KLA.