24 hour general strike paralyzes normal life in valley districts
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, September 02 2011: A 24-hour statewide general strike demanding the revelation of the whereabouts of the 'Assistant Publicity Officer' of the Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) completely paralyzed normal life in the valley.

The statewide general strike completely threw normal life out of gear.

While business establishments in the capital downed their shutters, all vehicles including inter-state and inter-district passenger buses stayed off the road except for a few private vehicles and those related to essential services.

Schools and educational institutions also remained shut while government offices witnessed lean attendance.

In the morning today, supporters of the general strike began burning tyres at RIMS road and Nagamapal area before the police dispersed them.

The general strike has been imposed by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention of G Jiteshwor Sharma aka GM Changjou aka Gypsy, an 'Assistant Publicity Officer' of the proscribed RPF, the political wing of the PLA.

The 49-year-old RPF leader from Nagamapal was reportedly taken away from his rented house near SM College in Dimapur by army men in civvies on August 18 at about 7 pm.

Family members reportedly sent a testimony on the alleged enforced disappearance of the RPF leader to Manipur DGP on August 19, a day after he was allegedly picked up by the Red Shield Division based in Leimakhong in Imphal.

Fifteen days have passed since his alleged disappearance, but the RPF leader still remains untraceable.

The army has clarified their stand on the issue but the situation remains murky.

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