KSO calls 24 hrs gen strike
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 05 2019:
Demanding unconditional release of the 10 executives of KSO Gunpi Block who were arrested in connection with the burning down of St Joseph's School, Sugnu, the KSO general headquarters has called a 24 hour general strike all over the State on June 7 with effect from June 6 midnight.
Speaking to media persons at Kuki Inn here this afternoon, KSO general headquarters information secretary David L Gangte said that the State-wide general strike would be followed by other modes of intense agitation in case the 10 executives are not released.
The KSO Central Executive Council which comprises of all the district branches of KSO in Manipur held a meeting recently and resolved to demand unconditional release of the 10 executives of KSO Gunpi Block.
David Gangte said that the continued detention of the 10 executives is unacceptable.
After St Joseph's School, Sugnu was burned down in the night of April 25, police apprehended three office bearers of KSO Gunpi Block even as the Gunpi Block clarified through media that they were not involved in the arson.
Nonetheless, seven executive members of KSO Gunpi Block submitted themselves to the SP Kakching on May 16 as they reposed their trust in the law and the investigating authority.
By that time, the three office bearers arrested earlier were already sent to judicial custody.
Even as the 10 executives were subjected to interrogation/ investigation for 10 days, no substantiated evidence were found against them in connection with the case of arson.
They were brought before the Court of CJM Chandel on May 27 and remanded to judicial custody for 15 days, David said.
It appeared that the arsonist(s) took advantage of the closure of the school and clandestinely burnt down the school knowing well that the KSO Gunpi Block executives would be blamed.
KSO is being made a scapegoat in this act of arson and vilified in the process, David said.
KSO Gunpi Block vice-president Thangjalet Haokip was one among the seven executives who submitted to the Kakching SP and he is suffering from jaundice but he too was not spared from going to jail, he decried.