JAC warns of boycotting election in Samurou
Sit-in protests bomb attack at residence of ex-MLA Salam Joy
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 12 2022:
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed against the killing of Abujam John and Abujam Sashikanta has warned of boycotting the upcoming assembly election in Samurou if the government fails to fulfil all its demands.
The JAC submitted a five-point memorandum to the chief minister on Wednesday and demanded fulfilment of all while warning of boycotting the election in Samurou area of Wangoi AC if the government fails to translate all the points into action.
Before submitting the memorandum, a large number of residents of Samurou came towards Imphal in passenger vehicles with an apparent bid to storm the CM's Bungalow following lapse of the 48-hour ultimatum served by the JAC to the government.
However, a large team of police blocked the vehicles at Heirangoithong and prevented the people from proceeding to the CM's Bungalow.
Nevertheless, police allowed some representatives of the JAC meet the CM and submit the five-point memorandum.
JAC convener Yanglem Rabi told media persons that the JAC served a 48-hour ultimatum to the government to book and nab culprits involved in the killing of Abujam John and Sashikanta.
However, the government failed to find any clue about the killing even as the ultimatum lapsed and this prompted those staging protest at Samurou Keithel on Wednesday to head towards the CM's Bungalow.
As the protestors were moving on passenger vehicles towards the CM's Bungalow, a large number police personnel stopped the vehicles at Heirangoithong .
After a brief scuffle between police and the protestors, the police allowed some representatives of the JAC to submit memorandum to the chief minister.
The memorandum containing five points said that the government should book all the culprits involved in the killing of Abujam John and Sashikanta and award them befitting punishment as per law.
It also demanded opening of a police outpost at Samurou or round the clock deployment of security personnel at Samurou to prevent unwanted incident as well as immediate instalment of CCTV camera in every locality of Samurou.
Another point of the memorandum proposed government jobs to next to kins of deceased John and Sashikanta.
On the other hand, another sit-in-protest was held on Wednesday at Samurou Naorem against the bomb attack carried out at the residence of ex-MLA of Wangoi AC Salam Joy on Wednesday morning.
A protestor named Hidam Ongbi Bidyamani told media persons that bomb attack at the residence of ex-MLA Salam Joy few days after Abujam John and Abujam Sashikanta were shot dead is creating panic among people and government should arrest all those involved and award them punishment as per law.
Regarding the bornb attack, ex-MLA Salam Joy said people of Samurou area in Wangoi AC were in pain after Abujam John and Abujam Sashikanta were killed by unidentified gunmen and bomb attack at his residence amidst the tense situation was strongly condemnable.
If anyone has differences with me, the matter could be resolved through dialogue; he added.