NH-39 blocked to protest killing
Two lynched under contradictory claims
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 23 2009: Strongly protesting the killing of Paolenlal Chongloi and Paokhoset Kipgen, who were lynched by a mob at Nongbrang yesterday, a large number of people came out on the road and blocked NH-39 at different points from early morning today.

Women folk came out and blocked the highway at Motbung bazar, Sapermeina bazar, Kanglatongbi bazar and Keithelmanbi.

The women folk claimed that the two youths were innocent civilians.

At Sapermeina bazar, members of the Sapermeina Area Mothers' Association blocked NH-39 and even forced a vehicle of the Assam Rifles stationed at the Motbung post to turn back.

At Keithelmanbi a large number of women folk squatted in the middle of the bridge and blocked all vehicular movement.

Protestors blocking vehicles of the Assam Rifles from passing through the protest staged today against the killing of two youths on December 22

The women folk carried banners with the words, "Killing of innocent student is no man's game," "We condemn the killing of Paolenlal and Paosat at Thoubal," "Book the culprits" "We strongly condemn the cold blooded murder of two Kuki students at Thoubal" etc.

A Maruti car which came from Kangpokpi side and which tried to evade the protestors was attacked and damaged.

Passenger buses coming from Motbung had to stop at Kanglatongbi while over 200 buses proceeding to Imphal were stranded at Kangpokpi.

Speaking to the media at Keithelmanbi today evening, spokesperson of the Kuki Students' Organisation, Shillong, P Kipgen said that Paolenlal Chongloi and Paokhosat Kipgen were innocent people.

The student leader claimed that Paolenlal Chongloi was a M Com student at NEHU and was awaiting his results.

Paokhosat Kipgen on the other hand had finished his graduation and was selected in the CPO examination for the post of Sub-Inspector.

He was going to face the viva-voce for the said post, maintained P Kipgen.

Both were active members of KSO, Shillong, he maintained.

Both of them were in Shillong for over 15 years and had returned home on December 18, said P Kipgen and asserted that they had bright and promising future.

To get the police verification for getting into the post of SI, Paokhoshat Kipgen along with Paolenlal Chongloi had out gone together and first proceeded to Bungba Khullen yesterday.

Though Paokhoshat Kipgen lived at Leimakhong, he was originally from Bungba Khullen and hence had gone there.

The unfortunate incident occurred while they were on their way to Bungba Khullen.

On the other hand representatives of KSO, ATSUM, TSA and ANSAM met the Chief Minister today evening to discuss the matter.

During the meeting the Chief Minister assured the team that fitting action would be taken up against the killers and added that they would be rounded up by December 31 .

Spokesperson of the SPF Government N Biren, TD Minister DD Thaisii, Hill Areas Committee Chairman, Thangminlien Kipgen and MLA Haokholet Kipgen were also present at the meeting.

After the meeting a joint team of the student bodies along with N Biren, Thangminlien Kipgen, MLA Haokholet Kipgen and MLA Lokeshwar proceeded to Keithelmanbi and met the protestors, to defuse the situation.

Later the MLAs met the family members of Paolenlal Chongloi and on their way back, escorted all the Imphal bound vehicles, stranded at Kangpokpi.