Killing of Roma decried
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 26 2011:
Decrying the killing of Roma Devi, a large number of people today blocked half of the Imphal-Dimapur road and staged a Wakat Meepham at Mantripukhri.
A memorandum has also been submitted to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh urging him to unmask the identity of the killers and deliver justice.
The JAC formed in protest against the killing, imposed a bandh along the stretch of the National Highway from 6 am to 12 noon today and a large number of local residents of Khabam, Mantripukhri, Achanbigei, Heingang, Ahallup, and Matai village staged a Wakat Meepham.
34-year old Leishangthem Ongbi Roma Devi of Kontha Khabam High School Leirak under Heingang Police Station of Imphal East district reportedly left home on April 3 to make some purchases in connection with Cheiraoba festival.
But she was found murdered at Irong, a place located in between Kontha Khabam and Kontha Ahallup in the afternoon of April 23 .
Apart from the search conducted by her family members and local people, a missing report had been lodged with Heingang Police.
Her body was found covered with straws at Irong.
At the beginning of the Wakat Meepham today, half of the road was blocked completely.
But after the arrival of a team of Imphal East district police, the protestors were dispersed and allowed them to demonstrate along the road side.
Nonetheless, even if the demonstration was staged along the road side, the protestors managed to block at least one lane of the Highway.
Commerce and Industries Minister Y Erabot and IFC Minister N Biren also came to participate in the protest demonstration.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Erabot pointed out that such incident of violence and killings have also taken place in the past.
But the investigation process of the Home Department or the Police have never been to the satisfaction of the people.
On the other hand, police personnel should not act like dictator in trying to stop the democratic agitation like staging Wakat Meepham without understanding the sentiments of the agitated people, the Minister said, while assuring that he would also extend support in exerting pressures on the demands of the JAC.
In the memorandum submitted to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, the JAC has demanded arrest and punishment of the killers within 10 days and warned of taking recourse to various intense agitation with the support of other social organisations and the public in case of failure.
Even though the Government has been claiming that the law and order situation in the State has improved significantly, it has not been able to ensure protection of the wo men.
So, the Government should pay attention to problems of the women in the State just like any other issues, the JAC further demanded.