Thousands stage sit-in demanding arrest of Wahengbam Ton's killers
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 16, 2013 : Thousands stage sit-in demanding arrest of Wahengbam Ton's killers HNS/Imphal, Nov 16: Decrying the killing of Wahengbam Ton Luwang (24) of Thangmeiband Lairenhanjaba Leikai by some people at Ragailong Village in Imphal East on November 13, thousands of people under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) Against Brutal Killing of Wahengbam Ton and Thangmeiband United Club staged a sit-in at Thangmeiband near DM College here today.

Talking to media persons, ex-Secretary of Namthalong Women's Society Remei Ashimlu said that Wahengbam Ton should not have been killed even if he committed some mistake.

The locals should not have remained as "silent spectators" even after seeing the ugly brawl on that fateful evening.

The murderers should not be covered up and they must be punished as per the law of the land, she enjoined.

Women folks taking part in sit-in-protest decrying the killing of Wahengbam Ton at Thangmeiband near DM College on Saturday

Organization Secretary of AMUCO L Thoithoi said that Ton's murder should not be given a communal colour.

The act of some people cannot be blamed to the whole community to which they belong.

The authorities concerned should investigate the incident properly and punish the culprits according to the law.

Vice-President of UCM Joychandra Konthoujam also demanded strict punishment for the killers of Wahengbam Ton, but appealed to all to avoid creating communal tensions in the State.

While maintaining that the State is inhabited by people belonging to different tribes and communities who believe in peace and harmony, the unfortunate incident of Ton's murder should not create rifts among the communities.

All people regardless of communities should help the authorities to give strictest punishment to the culprits, he added.

The representatives of JAC met Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and submitted a four-point memorandum today evening.

Relaxing the agitation to certain extent, the JAC agreed to take over Ton's dead body from RIMS Mortuary tonight.

The members of JAC have taken up all possible measures to avert any unwanted communal incident in the aftermath of Ton's murder, Dr Romi Maibam told Hueiyen Lanpao.

Meanwhile, while condemning the unfortunate incident that took place at Ragailong village on November 13 evening leading to death of one Wahengbam Ton alias Thembung alias Boinao s/o W Priyachandra Singh of Thangmeiband Lairenhanjaba Leikai, Zeliangrong Baudi Manipur (ZBM) and Zeliangrong Baudi Imphal Zone have expressed condolences to the family members of the deceased youth and shared their bereavement.

In a joint statement, the two Zeliangrong bodies appealed to the all concerned organizations to work together for bringing early normalcy through peaceful negotiations and mutual understandings as well to the family members of the deceased to restrain from taking this incident on communal line.

''Zeliangrong frontal organizations are ready to co-operate to bring early justice to the victim's family.

We have been working in every case on behalf of the family that justice should never get delayed and denied,'' the joint statement added.