Imphal, April 19: Refuting claim of 34 Assam Rifles in connection with the killing of Md Mustafa (23) s/o Badaru Jaman and Md Aziz alias Tomba (21) s/o Ameruddin at Yairipok yesterday, Islamic Students' Council, Lilong Branch today asserted both the slain persons were innocent family men who eke out livelihood through small trade and running of shop.

Both of them have left for Imphal on April 15 but were detained on the way by personnel of 34 Assam Rifles who ultimately killed them brutally and their bodies abandoned at Yairipok in the morning yesterday, Branch secretary MM Khan said in a statement.

Demanding to know why the two innocent persons have been killed in such a brutal manner, the student body asked whether there is no Government to stop the uniformed personnel from targeting innocent people.

In case the rights of the people could not be ensured that it would be honourable on the part of the elected representatives of the people to step down gracefully, the student body observed.

Expecting an amicable solution between the JAC fighting for the cause of justice and the State Government at the soonest possible, the student body has also threatened to call an indefinite bandh along the National Highway 39 in case the expectation is belied.

In protest against killing of innocent people, a religious rite of evoking Baduwa on the killers as well as Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh would also be performed very soon, the student body declared.