Highway traffic disturbed by bandh
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 26 2011: Police today succeeded in convincing protestors blocking the Imphal-Dimapur section of NH 39 between Mantripukhri and Koirengei to press the government to book the culprit(s) involved in the murder of a housewife.

Protestors blocked the road as part of a dawn to dusk (6 am to 6 pm) bandh called by the JAC formed in connection with the murder of 34-year-old housewife, Leishangthem Roma after a possible sexual assault.

Roma was missing since April 3 after she went out for marketing for Cheiraoba and was found murdered near Naga (Irong) Nullah in Ahallup Loukon on April 21 .

Irate women of Khabam and its surrounding area blocked the highway from vehicular movement at many places between Mantripukhri and Koirengei from the early hours today.

They blocked movement of passenger and freight vehicles for several hours until police personnel from Imphal East Police intervened and pacified them.

Police faced a hard time to convince the women who were demanding booking of the culprit(s) .

Police later allowed the protestors to stage sit-in- protests at Khabam, Achanbigei, Luwangsangbam, Lamlongei, Ahallup, Matai and Mantripukhri.

Residents of the nearby areas also extended support to the protests by arranging sites to stage the protests.

Commerce & Industries minister, Y Irabot also arrived at the spot and held interactions with the agitating women.

The minister said he was not satisfied with the way the government is handling public security.

Extending support to the demand of the people, Erabot assured that that he will try his best to press the government to book the culprit(s) .

Later, JAC against the brutal killing of Leishangthem Roma submitted a memorandum to the CM through IFCD minister N Biren, who is the circle MLA, and minister Y Irabot.

The memorandum sets a 10 day deadline to the government to book the culprit(s) .

If government fails to translate into action their demands the JAC will launch intensified forms of agitations, the memorandum warned.

The convener of the JAC W Bormani Devi, in the meantime, asked the culprits to surrender to the JAC or the police if he or they are the residents of Khabam, Ahallup and nearby areas.

"He must surrender immediately before the police," she said, adding that "if we find him before he surrenders, he will be liable for any actions taken on him" .

Leishangthem Roma is a Nepali by origin, married to a local man from Khabam.

She is survived by her husband, a school going daughter and a toddler son.

She was reportedly the bread winner of the family, enduring the drudgery of keeping both ends meet to maintain the family.

Comment