On 23 July 2009 BT Road Incident
- Zeliangrong Students' Union (ZSUM) -

Imphal: 9th August 2009

Office of the ZELIANGRONG STUDENTS' UNION
Manipur
HEAD OFFICE : ZELIANGRONG BUILDING KAKHULONG
PAONA ROAD IMPHAL – 795001

The Zeliangrong Student's Union, Manipur (ZSUM) strongly condemns the killing of Chongkham Sanjit Singh and 23 years old young mother and pregnant woman Raveena and injuring 5 other person at BT. Road on 23rd July 2009 by Manipur Police Commandos and thereafter the deliberate move of the Shri. O. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur to cover up the incident by misleading the entire elected representative of the Manipur Legislative Assembly on the august session. ZSUM also extremely detrimental to note the declaration "..... it's time to show who is ruling the land... " and the assertion "...there is no option but to killings..." by Chief Minister to justify the action of cold blooded killing and indiscriminate firing in crowded market place and to convince the entire remaining 59 odd members of legislative assembly as well. These statements have demeaned the Manipur Assembly and des-honour entire members of the house.

After 17 days from the day of killing a clarification issued by the Chief Minister Secretary cannot be accepted. Has the Cabinet decision to deploy IRB and Manipur Police Commandos in the hill districts of Manipur too a misquoted? This cannot be so.

Militarisation, instead of being a solution, has been the root cause of human rights violations in Manipur, as well as in other parts of North East India. Using laws such as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, Disturb Area Act, National Security Act, the Government of India and its state governments, have legitimised acts of violence and rights violations committed by state forces, and has supported and perpetuated a culture of immunity among the state forces. The recent statements from the Head of the Government and 23rd July 2009 incident at BT. Road are clear message of the present Shri O. Ibobi Singh led Secular Progressive Government.

ZSUM, as per the All Tribal Student's Union, Manipur (ATSUM) resolution adopted on 7th August 2009 in connection to the 19 May 2009 cabinet decision of the Manipur Government to send military personnel including Indian Reserved Battalion (IRB) and Rapid Action Police Force locally known as Manipur Police Commandos to the hills district of Manipur, is organising massive protest public rally at Tamenglong District. This is an alarming continuation of the tendency of the Government of Manipur to rely on militarisation as a tool to suppress and repress the voices and rights of Indigenous Peoples.

ZSUM demands that

1. Shri O. Ibobi Singh should gracefully step down for his total failure to govern the state as a democratic government but to the state of chaos and confusion and as the people of Manipur wishes;
2. Withdraw all the anti-people measures being taken during the tenure of the Shri O. Ibobi Singh including 19 May 2009 Cabinet Decision for deployment of IRB and Commandos in hill districts, signing of Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of Tipaimukh Dam Project, many other anti-people step taken without prior consent of the people; and
3. Institution of impartial and independent body to investigate all controversial or fake encounter or stage-managed killing in Manipur and awarded exemplary punishment to all those found guilty personnel involved.

(CHUNTHIUGAI)
State Secretary, ZSUM