Manipur paralyzed for 12 hours
Effigies of Ibobi, Chidambaram, Muivah burnt
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 03 2011: A 12-hour shut down across Manipur called by All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) against the terror blast on Monday at Sangakpham in Imphal completely paralyzed normal life in the state.

The day passed off peacefully barring incidents of small private vehicles being damaged by strike supporters in Imphal area.

Later, effigies of Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and NSCN-IM chief Th Muivah were burnt by students as a symbolic protest against the blast.

During the general strike that lasted from 5 am to 5 pm Wednesday, all educational institutions and business establishment across the state remained closed while government offices recorded a lean attendance.

Inter-state and inter-district passenger buses also stayed off the roads, completely paralyzing normal activities across the state.

The powerful blast in front of a saloon at a crowded market place at Sangakpham in the afternoon of August 1 instantly killed four innocent persons.

Floral tributes being paid to one of the two dead students

The innocent victims include a father-son duo from Bihar and two 10-year old girls in school uniforms identified as Thokchom Apik and Thilaso Tangkhul.

The government later identified a body to be a NSCN-IM cadre named Anthony s/o Bonklung of Sadu Koireng.

In the morning today, general strike supporters from in and around the blast site at Sangakpham came out in the streets and inflicted minor damages to defiant two wheelers.

Some people who also came on two wheelers but went back, when asked to, without causing any damage to their vehicles.

At about 4 pm, hundreds of students under the aegis of AMSU took out a procession from its office at DM College to Sangakpham where the residences of the two student victims of Monday's blast are located.

Women folk and other students joined the procession midway.

Returning after paying floral tributes to the deceased, the students burnt effigies of CM Ibobi Singh, Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram and NSCN-IM chairman Th Muivah at its headquarters at DM College as a symbolic protest against the "dastardly" act of planting a bomb at a crowd marketplace.

"NSCN-IM is a terrorist organization", "we strongly condemn attacks on innocent students and civilians", "Chidambaram should resign immediately", etc.

rent the air during the procession by the students.

Sit-in protests were also staged by women folk at various places across Imphal in condemnation of the blast at Sangakpham.

The general strike was however relaxed for essential services, religious functions and for the media.