Thoubal rage continues, one hurt in firing
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, December 01, 2012: Normal activities came to a grinding halt as womenfolk and volunteers of the JAC Against the brutal killing of Yanglem Naoba alias Bisheshwor came out in full strength to enforce the indefinite bandh today.

Apart from the district headquarters wearing a deserted look consequent to shut-down of commercial establishments, educational institutions, banks and most Government offices, at least eight vehicles have been damaged by volunteers for allegedly defying the bandh call.

Thirty years old Y Naoba of Thoubal Wangmataba was found shot dead besides a canal at Thoubal Nongangkhong area yesterday morning.

Even though Chief Minister Okram ibobi Singh assured a JAC delegation that all possible measures would be taken to trace/book the culprits, JAC members insisted that Naoba's body would not be claimed and that the bandh will continue.

On the otherhand, an elderly person suffered bullet wounds on the abdomen and leg portions after a State security force team opened fire to control agitators.

The incident happened at around 5.40 pm today when the bandh supporters tried to block a State security team.

Protestors block the Imphal-Moreh road in Thoubal district HQs to protest Naoba's killing

As two of the officers were attempting to mollify the agitated bandh supporter pushing and shoving ensued leading to the security personnel opening fire.

The injured person, currently undergoing treatment at Shija Hospitals (Langol), has been identified as Huirongbam Manichandra Singh (58) of Thoubal Wangmataba.

Suspecting circumstances surrounding Naoba's demise locals had formed the JAC at a hurriedly convened public meeting yesterday and resolved to impose indefinite bandh from 6 am today to protest the killing.

Traffic along the Imphal-Moreh route was affected at Thoubal Bazar area soon after news spread about Naoba's demise with the locals pelting stones at vehicles that tried to pass through road blocks.

The JAC had submitted memorandums to the Chief Minister and DGP, through the Thoubal DC and SP respectively, demanding that the culprits be traced/booked by December 1 failing which corpse of the victim would not be claimed and the indefinite bandh would be vigorously pursued.

From early morning today, suspected bandh supporters enforced the bandh on the Imphal-Moreh route by setting tyres on fire and barricading the Highway stretch in between babu Bazar and Thoubal Athokpam bridge by piling boulders and spilling lubricants.

Traffic on the Thoubal-Yairipok and Thoubal-Mayang Imphal roads was also severely affected as volunteers put up road blockades at Moirang Palli, Thoubal Sabaltongba Lamkhai and Ningombam areas.

Simultaneously, sit-in-protest was organised at Thoubal parking with the participants raising slogans against the killing of Naoba and demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.

Later, the protestors took out a protest rally from the meeting venue upto office of the Deputy Commissioner, Thoubal.

During the march they also shouted slogans against the killing, alleged conspiracy behind the slaying of the shop-owner and reasserting their demand for arrest of all those involved in the heinous crime.

At the DC's office, the DC himself and SP (Thoubal) had a meeting with the JAC team and upon reaching at an agreement went to meet the CM.

A memorandum highlighting the JAC demands was handed to the CM, in whose constituency the murder had taken place.

The CM's assurance that there would be no laxity in the case failed to convinced the JAC delegation, who later announced that the indefinite bandh will continue.