Wangoi residents protest killing of pharmacist
Sets 48-hour deadline to book culprits
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 15 2011: Irate residents of Wangoi today set a 48-hour deadline to book the culprits in the shooting of a pharmacist Tuesday night on his way home from the market.

Huidrom Jiten (45) of Yumnam Huidrom Khunyai Leikai, a pharmacist in the state Medical Department was shot twice by two assailants last night around 8.30 pm on his way home with two friends.

Decrying the killing of Jiten, residents of Wangoi area carried out a protest demonstration at Luxmi Bazar at Wangoi by blocking the Mayai Lambi road.

Shops and other establishment in the bazar were area also closed in a solidarity to the protest.

Residents also marched a protest rally which was followed by a public meeting.

The meeting formed a Joint Action Committee and threatened to launch a series of agitations if the government fails to book the culprits responsible for the murder of the pharmacist.

While setting the 48-hour deadline, the countdown started today at noon.

The demand is to book the culprits in the murder case, the JAC will launch a series of agitations including blocking of Mayai Lambi (state highway) road, the convener of the JAC said.

Kiranmala wife of Huidrom Jiten of Yumnam Huidrom Khunyai Leikai, lies distraught after her husband was shot dead on July 15

Wife of the deceased, Kiranmala said that her husband was an innocent man and they had received no monetary demands from any underground groups.

He was always serious about the future of their three sons and always took care of them in their studies.

He was recently transferred to Tamenglong district from his earlier posting at Wangoi Community Health Centre and had been approaching higher authorities to cancel his transfer on fear of harming the careers of his children in his absence, she recalled.

To meet additional family expenditure, he ran a pharmacy at Thongkhong Luxmi Bazar, Kiranmala said.

A woman taking part in the protest said that they denounced the killing of Jotin stating that killing of an innocent man in the name of struggle for independence is an act of terrorists.

If the murder was a handy work of a UG group they should then clarify to the public, she demanded.

She further urged the government to supply arms to the people to protect themselves from atrocities meted out to them by non-state actors.

They don't want to convert the state into a land of widows, she said.

Meanwhile, the JAC submitted a memorandum containing various demands to the Chief Minister.

Besides demanding the booking of the culprits, the memorandum demanded a government job for the next of kin of the deceased and an ex-gratia payment of ' 10 lakh which should be fulfilled before the Shradha ceremony of the deceased.

While submitting the memorandum, representatives of the JAC led by Wangoi MLA Salam Joy met with the CM who pointed out that the 48-hour deadline set by them is too short to hunt out the culprits and urged for some more time to book the culprits.

The CM asked for a week's time to book the culprits to the JAC.

However, JAC is still standing by their words and have not taken the dead body saying that they will wait till their main demand of booking the culprits is fulfilled by the state government.