JAC memo to CM demands NIA probe
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 23 2021: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed against the brutal murder of Zeliangrong Baudi former president Athuan Abonmai submitted a memorandum to chief minister N Biren and demanded NIA inquiry into the conspiracy of abduction, torture and subsequent murder of Abonmai and immediate suspension of DC and SP Tamenglong.

In the memorandum submitted Thursday, the JAC urged the chief minister to initiate immediate action so as to ensure justice to Athuan Abonmai and instil a sense of peace and harmony and law and order in the state.

According to the JAC, Athuan was abducted from Tamenglong district headquarters polo ground while he was attending the popular 'Go to hills' programme of the government held in the presence of the chief minister on Wednesday.

He was abducted in full public view and was found brutally murdered by suspected NSCN-IM armed cadres near Pallong village in Tamenglong district on the same day.

The brutal and inhuman murder of Athuan Abonmai, a law-abiding citizen and leader of Zeliangrong community who believed in peaceful coexistence of all communities in Manipur, has triggered strong public anger and resentment over the breakdown of law and order in the hills of Manipur.

The public are angry and the JAC demands answer from the Government of India as to why it is engaging in peace process with the NSCN-IM even though the outfit continues to harass, terrorise and kill people who refuse to toe their diktat.

Asking if peace talk is a license to kill public, the JAC said it will not tolerate this double standard.

Condemning the cold-blooded murder of Athuan Abonmai in the strongest term, the JAC said that villagers tending to his mortal remains found the sledgehammer used to kill the victim indicating that the murder was job of professional assassins.

The abduction from full view of the security forces and inaction on part of the district administration smack of a conspiracy behind the whole episode, the JAC said and demanded that the culprits and the organisation responsible for this ghastly crime be brought to justice at the earliest.

In order to get justice for Athuan Abonmai and bring peace, social harmony and law and order in the hills of Manipur, the JAC put up a charter of demands to the government through the memorandum. The demands include issuance of order for a high-level National Investigating Agency (NIA) inquiry into the conspiracy of abduction, torture and subsequent murder of Athuan Abonmai under IPC 302, 364 and immediate suspension of DC and SP of Tamenglong district as the abduction happened in broad daylight in the presence of security personnel deployed at the government function.

It also said that Athuan Abonmai's corpse will not be claimed until the culprits are arrested and justice delivered to the victim and his family.

Another demand of the JAC is provision of appropriate compensation to the next of kin of Athuan Abonmai.

The memorandum also warned of launching different form of agitations in coordination with civil society organisations if government fails to fulfil the demands by September 24 midnight.

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