Killing of a youth in police firing: Imphal-Ukhrul road bandh to be intensified
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 19 2015 : As the meeting between JAC representatives and the State Government has failed to break the deadlock, the JAC constituted against the killing of a youth and injuring another at Kangla Sangomshang has decided to intensify the Imphal-Ukhrul road bandh by extending the stir to Tinsid road and Imphal-Pangei road from tomorrow.

JAC convenor Ngangom Devan said that an eight-member team of the JAC along with Khurai AC MLA Dr Ng Bijoy had a meeting with Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam at the CM's office chamber today.

During the two-hour long meeting, the JAC representatives placed their three-point charter of demands before the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister.

Their demands included immediate termination of the police commandos involved in the incident from their service, initiation of criminal case against them, unconditional release of the three youths from police custody and a suitable Government job to a family member of the deceased.

Womenfolk staging a rally against the killing

Although, the Chief Minister agreed to the demand for providing a Government job to a family member of the deceased and release of all the three youths, who are in the police custody, the meeting failed to bring any understanding between the two sides after the Chief Minister told the JAC representatives that the involved commando personnel could not be terminated from service as the matter needs a thorough enquiry, Devan said.

As such, they have decided to spread the present agitation from Imphal-Ukhrul road to Tinsid road and Imphal-Pangei road from tomorrow, the convenor added.

He further said that a public meeting in this regard would be held at Lamlong tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the indefinite bandh imposed along Imphal-Ukhrul road severely affected normal life at Khurai area today.

With no vehicle allowed to pass Khurai, Lamlong Keithel wore a deserted look as all the shops, business establishments and petrol pumps remained closed during the bandh.

Bandh supporters came out on the streets since early morning and imposed bandh by burning tyres and placing boulders, tree branches and bamboos etc.

On the other hand, womenfolk of Khurai Tharoijam Leirak and Konsam Leikai staged sit-in-protests decrying the police action.

Later, a large number of JAC members, womenflok and youth of Khurai area took out a protest rally from Khurai Popular School ground towards Lamlong at around 2 pm.

They shouted slogans demanding service termination of the involved commando personnel in condemnation of the killing of an innocent student.

However, a large police team blocked the rally at Khurai Sajor Leirak.

Later, police allowed the rallyists to proceed up to Lamlong Keithel.

After they were stopped there, police allowed eight JAC representatives to meet the Chief Minister while other rallyists staged a sit-in-protest at Lamlong Keithel.

Later in the evening, another rally was taken out after the meeting with the Chief Minister failed to arrive at any understanding.

Meanwhile, MPP Chanura Marup has strongly condemned killing of a student and injuring another in police firing at Kangla Sangomshang.

In a statement, Chanura Marup said that no police in the world open fire on innocent students when they do not heed their call to stop.

Chanura Marup also urged womenfolk of the State to stand collectively against such police excesses.

Meanwhile, as part of the agitation launched by AMSU against the killing of a student and injuring another in police firing at Kangla Sangomshang, students of different schools staged protests in Thoubal district today.

Under the supervision of AMSU Thoubal district committee, students of Waikhom Mani Girls' College, Fancier Abhiram Higher Secondary School, Vision Creative School of Science, KM Blooming School, New Public School, Pujari High School, Khangabok Government High School, Little Star Higher Secondary School, Peace and Freedom Academy, Paradise English School, Best Academy and Eureka High School demonstrated on the side of NH-2 (Imphal-Moreh road) near their schools.

On the other hand, students of Royal Academy, Wangjing, Progressive English School, Wangjing Lamding, Wangjing Model High School, Wangjing Lamding took out a rally from Wangjing bazaar to Wangbal in protest against the killing of Korounganba.