Shops shut to protest police action
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 28 2011: Shops and other business establishments located in and around Nagamapal were forced to shut down today to protest against the police action of preventing a group of people from handing over a memorandum to the Chief Minister in connection with the non-disclosure of the proscribed RPF assistant publicity officer GM Changjou's whereabouts.

GM Changjou alias Gurumayum Jiteshwar Sharma alias Gypsy of Nagamapal Singjubung Leirak was reportedly picked up from a house in Dimapur locality by suspected indian Army personnel some days back.

Decrying the police action of denying an opportunity to meet and hand over the representation to the Chief Minister, locals forced shut-down in Nagamapal area in addition to constituting a JAC with the body subsequently declaring imposition of a 24 hour general strike from September 1 midnight to protest the police action.

A group of people comprising of local residents of Nagamapal Singjubung Leirak and adjacent areas took out a peaceful rally and were on their way to apprise the CM on Changjou's arrest and for confirming his whereabouts at the earliest.

Police stopping rallyists from submittig memorandum to Chief Minister

Upon reaching the temporary market shed, police personnel prevented the group of people from marching further resulting in a brief exchange of heated words and snatching of placards and festoons by the police personnel who also succeeded in herding away the protestors.

The memorandum copy meant for presentation to the CM was torn apart and hurled towards the police by the protestors who resorted to shutting down of shops located at Nagamapal areas in denunciation of the police action.

Soon after an emergency public meeting was held at Singjubung Leirak Gurumayum Mandop which culminated with the constitution of a 17-member JAC along with L Ashangba as its convenor.

Speaking to news-persons later in the evening a JAC member namely Pushpa Gurumayum said not declaring GM Changjou's status/whereabouts even after 10 days of arrest is a violation of law.

Demanding that Changjou's whereabouts be officially declared within August 31, she said failure to honour the demand will compel the JAC to go ahead with the 24 hour State-wide general strike.

Changjou's wife Baby alias Sujata, who recounted events leading to her husband's arrest from a Dimapur house made a fervent appeal to the Government for ensuring safe and early handing over of the RPF's assistant publicity secretary to the authority concerned.

It may be mentioned that GM changjou was reportedly arrested from a Duncan Basti house on August 18 night by some unidentified persons who were clad in army uniforms.