Imphal, May 16: The Apunba Lup will be joining hands with the JAC constituted in connection with the killing of W Shyamjai of Moirang Ngangkhalawai in the latter's various protest movements aimed at bringing justice.

The Working Committee of the Apunba Lup has also warned of intense agitation in case the Government fails to materialise the demands of the JAC by May 18.Shyamjai was picked up by some unidentified men clad in civilian dress on May 8 when he was de-scaling fish for the marriage of his elder brother.

He was found shot dead after three days on May 11 with the allegation that he was killed in an encounter with troops of 15 J&K Light Infantry.

Infuriated with the alleged callous response of the State Government to the sentiments of the people, a public was held today under the aegis of the JAC at Moirang Ngangkha with leaders of the Apunba Lup.

The meeting resolved to launch various forms of civil protest movements.

The meeting demanded that personnel of 15 JAKLI involved in the killing of Shyamjai should be awarded fitting punishment and the whole J&K Light Infantry should be removed from Manipur.

Maintaining that Shyamjai was an innocent civilian, the JAC reiterated that it can never accept the army authority's version that he was killed in encounter.

In case the State Government fails to fulfil the demands of the people by May 18, the JAC together with the Apunba Lup and other pivil organisations would launch intense stir.

The meeting also resolved not to claim the corpse of Shyamjai until the people's demands are met.

Even though the JAC blocked Tidim road on May 14, it relaxed the road bandh today.

Yet, the corpse of Shyamjai remains unclaimed at RIMS mortuary.

Earlier, the JAC talked with Chief Minister O Ibobi on the issue and demanded guns to defend themselves from security forces.

To this, the Chief Minister declined the JAC's demand saying that arms cannot be issued to civilians.

Moreover, the Chief Minister also reportedly made sneering remarks in total disregard to the hurt sentiments of the people, infuriating the JAC members all the more.

As for the family of Shyamjai, cruel unseen hands have bestowed tragedy one after another.

About 10 years back, Shyamjai's father Shamungou was killed by some unknown men near Moirang College gate.

When the family was reeling under the shock of losing the head of the family, another tragedy struck the family when Shyamjai's elder brother Ibungo was murdered by some unidentified persons a few years later.

And now Shyamjai has fallen victim to the cruel hands.

This time it came as troops of the 15 J&K Light Infantry, if at all the JAC's statement is true.

Addressing the meeting held today, Apunba Lup leader L Mema asserted that the State Government's refusal to issue guns to people of Moirang Ngangkha-lawai while the Government is more than enthusiastic to provide weapons to the people of Heirok and Chaji-ng only amounts to re-endorsing .

the infamous Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958.She observed neither the security forces nor insurgents ever proclaim the offence of any individual before they were done to death.

It is only after killing a person that they come up with the faults of the slain individual, she lamented while appealing to both the State and non-State actors to spare civilians from their conflict.

Under the prevailing situation, Meira Paibis want not one gun but two each.

One to defend themselves from security forces and the other to discipline wayward sons, Mema said.