Imphal, March 02: Daily chores of Jiribam public had been severely hit following imposition of indefinite bandh in the sub-division to protest brutal murder of an elderly man on February 28. On the second day of the agitation today, shops downed shutters and vehicles stayed off the road even as students appearing in HSSLC and HSLC examinations were exempted from the purview of the bandh.

The agitation is being called against the murder of one L Ngouba (55) of Jiribam Sorok Atingbi.

The victim's body is still kept at the police station.

According to press source, a meeting held yesterday and attended by representatives of AMSU, DESAM, Jiribam Meira Paibi apunba Lup and Jiribam Development Organisation had resolved to demand stationing of State police or Manipur Rifles personnel in Barak Circle areas.

The meeting also decided against claiming Ngouba's body till the accused killer named as one Koton Das is arrested.

mention may be made that ethnic tension had been gripping Barak Circle area after shifting of 6 MR post on February 25.Meanwhile, a press release issued by the Jiribam Development Organisation demanded resignation of the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh for failing to safeguard the citizens of Jiribam.

Contrary to public demand for deployment of State forces in Barak Circle the State Government shut down the only police post thereby emboldening anti-social elements to threaten and intimidate indigenous resident since midnight of the closure, said the Organisation.

Elucidating events on the ethnic tension prevalent particularly in the immigrant stronghold of Barak Circle, the body alleged miscreants of setting fire to a house in Harinagar followed by the gorging of Loitongbam Ngouba with a sharp weapon on February 28 night.

Strongly condemning lack of initiative from the Government to control escalation of ethnic tension in the sub-division and expressing awe at inaction of Central security forces, the Organisation called upon the civil organisations of the State to intervene in protecting the indigenous people whose existence in Barak Circle had come under serious threat.

Many residents of Barak Circle had left their homesteads and taking shelter at the sub-divisional headquarters.

Comment