Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 25 2009:
The All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) has strongly condemned the indiscriminate firing at busy Khwairamband market on July 23 in which two people including a young, pregnant mother was killed.
Expressing shock over the manner in which the lifeless body of the woman was shove in a police vehicle without any respect, the AMUCO called upon womenfolk of the State to raise up against such undignified treatment of a dead body.
Asserting that the July 23 incident was a continuation of excesses committed by State agencies, AMUCO demanded that the incident should be investigated at the highest level.
Noting that the people of Manipur have been persistently calling upon both State and non-State actors to stop extra-judicial killings and all forms of atrocities and harassments, AMUCO some non-state armed groups have been continuing with abduction, bomb/firing attacks, robbery on highways and other violent activities.
On the other side, armed agencies of the State have stepped up killing people at will and with impunity.
Except for VVIPs and VIPs, the right to live and right to livelihood of the common people have been put under serious threats, observed AMUCO in a press release.
Although the people of Manipur are said to be living under a democratic government, their right to live and other democratic rights have long been trampled upon.
Cautioning all people to take up all possible precautionary measures in order to save their lives from different forces targeting them, AMUCO said that public leaders, representatives and organisations should take a proactive role, rather than remaining silent, for the lives and rights of the people.
The All Manipur Women's Voluntary Association (AMAWOVA) has condemned the killing of a young mother and injuring five other people in the course of police action to nab/kill a suspicious person at about 10.30 am of July 23.A press release issued by AMAWOVA also decried the Chief Minister's statement "some more must die".
Joining the outcry, Manipuri Chanura Leishem Marup (Macha Leima) has called upon the Government to check the activities of commandos who are assigned duty in public places.
It was an unpardonable blunder on the part of police commandos to cause death and injuries to many people in their action to nab/kill one suspicious person.
Macha Leima also demanded a Judicial enquiry into the accident and punishment of commandos, if found guilty.
Quoting the Chief Minister's statement "no option other than elimination", the Poirei Ita Meira Paibi Apunba Lup asserted that the Chief Minister was only exposing his sense of irresponsibility.
The Lup also condoled the young mother as well as the youth killed in the incident.
The Nupee Khunai Meira Paibi, Liwa Lambi Bokul Makhong has also strongly condemned the firing incident of June 23 at BT road.
Decrying the act of endorsing the Chief Minister's report on the BT Road shooting incident by opposition MLAs without questioning its authenticity or asking for enquiry, the Apunba Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (AMKIL) has accused Chief Minister O Ibobi of emboldening security forces to kill more and more people.
Saying that many people know which bullet claimed Rabina's life, AMKIL demanded a Judicial enquiry into the shooting incident.
It also asked the State Government to give renewed training to State security forces on how not to violate human rights of the public.
The Kwakeithel Apunba Meira Paibi Lup (KAMPAL) said that 'the incident of July 23 at busy Khwairamband Keithel that claimed the lives of a young mother and a youth was a gift of our elected leaders to the people'.
It also asked whether the Government has taken up any measures to avert such incidents in future.
The Meira Paibi Welfare Association Kangleipak (MEPWAK) has also condemned the act of killing a woman and injuring five others in the police action to overpower a suspected militant.