Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Jul 31:
The 24 hour general strike called by the Kuki Students' Organization in protest against the alleged extra judicial killing of two Kuki youths by police commandos ended before the scheduled time after the Government expressed regret over the killing and assured to abide by the Kuki customary norms and compensate families of the two youths.
The understanding was reached around 3 pm today following a meeting between representatives of KSO and other civil society organizations and the Government led by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh at his office chamber.
KSO alleged that Paominlen Touthang of Aigejang village in Senapati district and Lunlal Haokip of Sugnu in Thoubal district were picked up by police commandos, who came in civvies in a two wheeler on Wednesday last from Khuman Lampak and later taken to a police Gypsy at Langol where they were gunned down in cold blood.
The police contended that the two were members of the KRA and were killed in an encounter.
Before 3 pm, normal activities at Imphal came to a grinding halt due to the 24 hour general strike that was supposed to end today midnight.
While the Govt expressed regret over the untimely loss of lives of the two and accordingly performed "Hemkham", the meeting agreed to resolve the matter in the Kuki customary manner.
Kuki elders said that in such customary manner the Govt would offer pigs, shawls and monetary fines to the deceased families.
Owing to the strike no vehicles plied for the day except on ceremonial and emergency services and traders also downed shutters at major business establishments at the capital.
The bandh also affected normal activities at other districts.
The bandh, however, did not disrupt normal flight services.
Following today's understanding, representatives of KSO, Kuki Movement for Human Rights, Kuki Mothers' Association and All Manipur Students Union agreed to call off the agitation immediately and receive the bodies of the two.
KSO had demanded termination of the guilty commandos and institution of a judicial inquiry to probe the incident.
Earlier the students' body and other civil society organizations had failed to arrive at a solution during a meeting with the Chief Minister yesterday.
After the talk broke down, KSO had announced that the 24 hours bandh would be followed by an indefinite economic blockade on both the National Highways.
Durng the bandh police fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse bandh supporters around New Lambulane area close to the official residences of State senior officials in the heart of the town.
Strike supporters at Kuki dominated areas at Imphal also burnt tyres and logs and smashed glasswares on the streets.