Public bays for Ukhrul DC's head as first leg of bandh paralyses State
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 18 2009: Alleging inefficiency on the part of the Ukhrul district Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of police with regard to the killing of Kasom Khullen SDO, his driver and a Revenue Department employee a public meeting held today at the Uripok base of the BT Flyover demanded suspension of the official duo with immediate effect.

The meeting convened by locals of Aribam Rajen alias Amuba's home place Uripok Khoisnam Leikai, also formed a Joint Action Committee (JAC) with the appointment of nine convenors and eight co-convenors.

In addition to accusing laxity on the part of the DC and SP of Ukhrul district and their suspensions, other resolutions adopted at the meeting included demands for a white paper by the Government on the triple murder, not to claim Rajen's body till a satisfactory agreement is arrived at, extending cooperation to any movement launched on the issue, to stage sit-in-protest at the localities of Uripok tomorrow and asking the NSCN (IM) leaderships to prove non-involvement of its cadres in the killing of three.

Road blocks being enforced during the general strike

many individuals who addressed the meeting observed that the brutal murder was carried out by an armed group currently observing ceasefire with the Government of India but the fact that the three were not shot dead was only to be-fool the general public that the particular group was not involved.

Uripok AC MLA L Nandakumar who also spoke at the occasion stressed on cooperation and joint movement by the JACs formed on the triple murder besides pledging his personal support to the people's movement.

A two minute silence was also observed for peaceful rest of the departed souls.

Bandh cripples State the 48 hours general strike called to protest the killing of kasom Khullen Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), his driver and a Revenue Department employee severely effected normal activities in the entire State as strike supporters swarmed out to the streets and brought the capital city to a virtual standstill.

Mutilated bodies of the SDO Dr Thingnam Kishan, driver Aribam Rajen alias Amuba and Yumnam Token were recovered from a Senapati district location yesterday morning after the trio with three others were reportedly abducted by unidentified armed persons from an Ukhrul district area on February 13 .

In what seems to be strike weapons a spade and boulders with blood stains were also retrieved by the police from near the bodies of the deceased.

With tension running high in the capital districts, birthplace of the deceased trio, the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who was scheduled to board a New Delhi-bound flight today put off the official visit is taking stock of the situation, confided an informed source.

The JAC formed in the aftermath of the triple killing along with other civil society organisations had given the general strike call with effect from midnight of February 17 .

With almost all the market places in Imphal areas remaining shut and inter-district transport operators ceasing service during the strike period normal chores in other districts were also effected even as Senapati and Ukhrul district observed bandh today in denunciation of the murder.

Inter-State passenger carriers also stayed off the road, educational institutions cancelled classes and attendance at Government offices registered minimal presence.

However, flight services were also not effected.

other than strike supporters, who put up road blockade by burning tyres and debris at many location of the capital city, coming out in the streets there was negligible movement of people or vehicular traffic.

Notwithstanding smashing of some light motor vehicles and deflating tyres the general strike passed off without any major incident on the first day of the agitation call.

Presence of strike enforcers was maximum at Sagolband, Uripok, Wangkhei, Khoyathong, Nagamapal, Singjamei, Nambul Mapal and Kakwa, among other places.

The deceased were from Nagamapal Kangjabi Leirak, Uripok Khoisnam Leikai and Yumnam Leikai.

These places also witnessed deployment of additional security force personnel.

In a symbolic protest of the trio being hacked to death women strike supporters wielded spades at Naoremthong area, while as several other places the protest call was marked by the locals staging sit-in-demonstration.

As the Naga Peoples' Organisation, Senapati District Students' Association and Senapati District Women's Association too enforced a 24 hour bandh in denunciation of the killing educational institutions remained shut while Govt offices were also crippled.

Similar situation was also observed at Ukhrul district where market places and educational institutions located in the district Hqs were closed.

According to a late report about 107 goods-laden trucks and 16 tourists buses left Mao gate under security escorts, who were actually detailed to escort back oil tankers.

As no petroleum carrier left Imphal today, the escort party brought back the other stranded vehicles, stuck at the inter-state border town due to the general strike call.

During the strike period, youths set on fire effigies of the Chief Minister O Ibobi , Ukhrul DC Pankaj Kumar Pal and NSCN (IM) Chairman Th Muivah at Keishampat.

The NSCN (IM), Wung (Tangkhul) Region had already denied involvement in the murder case and assured to probe the matter to track the killer/s. Expressing solidarity to the bereaved families, a team of Ministers/MLAs including N Biren, K Ranjit, I Hemochandra, L Nandakumar, Bijoy Koijam and RK Anand visited houses of the three victims besides addressing public meetings.