Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 07:
The Working Committee of the Apunba Lup and Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), General Headquarters have expressed strong reservation against the signing of an agreement between the villagers of Saitu and Assam Rifles authorities in connection with the May 5 incriminate firing by AR personnel resulting in death of three innocent persons including a young girl child.
Signing such an agreement with the guilty AR personnel would only encourage them to strike on more innocent people in future with impunity, a statement jointly signed by the co-ordinators of Apunba Lup namely Y Devadutta, K Sunil, Y Nabachandra and Sapamcha Kangleipal said today.
It seems Manipur is the only place in a democratic country like India where the human life could be compromised with money, the Apunba Lup lamented.
The fact that AR authorities could muffle the voice of the people by paying some money as compensation for the killing of three innocent persons has made this fact crystal clear, the statement added.
On the other hand, KSO strongly criticized agreement signed between representatives either side and asserted that if the matter had to be settled according to the customary law, the confession of the committed crime by the CO of 14 AR should be threadbare.
Human life cannot be compensated by money! so the agreement signed was not worthy, joint secretary of the student body LK Khongsai said in a statement.
He also rubbished PIB Defence Wing's claim that the three persons were killed in cross-firing with the militants.
The statement was baseless and concocted to save the face of the 14 AR troops for senseless act, he said, and asked why the AR personnel shot down two women and a child at point "blank instead of chasing the militants, if they possess guts and courage? However, the students� body expressed gratitude to Major General BS Ghotra, IGAR (South) for ordering a high level inquiry into the incident before any pressure from any one for upholding justice.