TODAY -
Talk fails, punishment demanded
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 30: As the talk between the JAC constituted in connection with the killing of Longjam Utamkumar and the Chief Minister failed to arrive at any understanding, there are many indications that various protest movements may be launched shortly.

Utamkumar (34) son of Santi alias Boyai of Keishamthong Longjam Leirak was shot dead by police commandos clad in civvies in his own residential complex yesterday.

Along with submitting a memorandum listing a charter of demands to the Chief Minister, the JAC representatives also talked with the Chief Minister this afternoon.

The memorandum also listed the resolutions adopted during a public meeting held this morning and also a detailed account of the killing as narrated by Utamkumar's father Santi alias Boyai, mother Mina Devi and paternal uncle Gyanendro.

During the talk, Chief Minister O Ibobi reportedly maintained that Utamkumar had links with a UG group and he was guilty on many counts.

Contrary to the standpoint of the Chief Minister the JAC has been demanding suspension of commandos involved in the killing of Utamkumar in front of his own family members in his own residential complex within 72 hours or to punish them according to law.

Contending that Utamkumar was innocent, the JAC questioned as to why the commandos shot him dead mercilessly when they could have arrested him easily if they thought Utamkumar was guilty.

It demanded an explicit and rational explanation for killing Utamkumar who had almost fallen into the hands of the commandos.

The memorandum also mentioned intense movements will be launched together with civil organisations and the people if the commandos involved in the killing are not punished accordingly.

The JAC and the family will not claim the corpse until and unless justice is delivered, it added.

The corpse of Utamkumar is still lying at RIMS mortuary without undergoing post mortem examination.

The shocking act of the trigger happy commandos to kill an innocent man right in front of his family members in broad day light in a place from where the draconian AFSPA 1958 has been lifted has terrified the public to the extreme, stated the JAC.

The commandos have been killing people by staging fake encounters as and when they wish, it alleged in their memorandum.

It also conveyed strong objection to transferring guilty or involved security personnel from one jurisdiction to another in the name of punishing them.

The accounts given by Utamkumar's father, mother and uncle strongly indicated that the killers were police commandos clad in civies.





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