Strike in Jiri to intensify; protest erupt in Thoubal
Source: Chronicle News Service
Jiribam/Thoubal, November 16 2024:
The general strike called by the Jiri United Committee (JUC) in connection with the abduction of six persons, including three children by Kuki militants, commenced on Saturday.
However, with the news of the discovery of their dead bodies, the strike is set to intensify.
Addressing a press meet held at the JIMPAL office on Saturday, JUC convener H Priyananda alleged that the brutal gang rape and killing of three women and three children, who were kidnapped on November 11 by Kuki-Zo-Hmar terrorists from Jiribam's Barak Circle and then dumped at Girgal Hmar village, Jiribam district, and Narayan Dhor, Cachar, Assam, is highly condemnable.
He also demanded that the Kuki-Zo-Hmar terrorists involved in the case be arrested within 24 hours and punished as per the law.
Mentioning that JUC had been agitating and demanding the release of the abductees within 24 hours, Priyananda emphasised that their 48-hour general strike call over the issue will now be further intensified.
He also appealed to all clubs and Meira Paibi activists of the district to extend their support to make the strike more intense.
Priyananda further pressed that, as per the state government's decision taken at the special cabinet meeting held on Friday, the Kuki-Zo-Hmar militants involved in the incident should be declared terrorists within 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the general strike imposed from 6 am on Saturday crippled normal life in the district as protestors blocked roads, including NH-37, by piling up wood, burning tyres, and picketing on the road.
Government and private offices, markets, and shops remained closed, and very few people were seen moving on the roads.
On the other hand, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) Jiribam Students' Front (JSF) has strongly condemned the actions of Kuki militants at Borobekra, where they attacked a relief camp at Jakuradhor police station, killing two elderly people and kidnapping three women and three children on November 11, with three bodies being found on Friday.
Addressing a press meet at the Students' Union of Kangleipak (SUK) Jiribam District Committee office at Babupara, COCOMI JSF coordinator Thounaojam Rojen demanded that the government arrest the culprits at the earliest.
He asserted that if the government fails to arrest the perpetrators, they are ready to launch intense agitation with other Jiribam student organisations from June 18.Meanwhile, protests erupted in Thoubal district on Saturday after news of the recovery of the bodies of three children and three women spread.
As the news circulated, Thoubal Keithel and other shops and markets closed down from 9 am onwards.
Tyres were also burnt on NH 102 at Khangabok.
Speaking to the media in connection with the sudden protests, Thoubal Apunba Lup (TAL) publicity secretary Sanjenbam Amarjit criticised the state government for maintaining silence even after the killing of children and women in the ongoing crisis.
He also stated that the public is becoming confused about who is pulling the strings behind the prevailing conflict.
Questioning why the central and state governments have remained silent and mactive when Kuki militants attack Meetei, Amarjit further emphasised that they launched the protest to show solidarity with the killed women and children.
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