Church leaders pray for peace ; JAC rolls out stir plan for a week
Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite

CCpur, September 14 2015: Church leaders from the district drawn from all denominations today held an open air mass prayer for peace to prevail while the JAC has released a week-long agitation plan.

With the spontaneous protest that erupted following the passing of three Bills that are dubbed as anti-tribal in the State Assembly touching two weeks today, Pastors and Church elders gathered at Lamka Public Ground today for an hour-long prayer event.

The mass prayer, held under the aegis of Christian Goodwill Council saw hundreds of Church leaders across all denominations praying for the people and their cause.

Speakers addressing the meeting called for a reflection on the recent events saying the violence, the cause of such agitation, and the insecurity of tribal people should be a paradigm to drive them towards God, and not away from Him.

The JAC spearheading the agitation against the alleged anti-tribal Bills has meanwhile appealed to the Deputy Commissioner to shut-down his office as well as other Government establishments within the district until further notice.

Church leaders leading a prayer session

The JAC in its letter to the DC said "All persons, irrespective of his or her status, should understand and respect our days of mourning for our departed Tribal Martyrs and respect the cause for our struggle" .

It also called upon the security forces as well to restrict movement while their agitation is in force and to communicate with them in writing even in cases of emergencies.

The JAC has claimed that its volunteers stationed at Kangvai village were assaulted by Bishnupur police commandos when they prevented a vehicle (MN02 A 2746) carrying 50-60 litres of liquor on September 13 .

"The JAC abhors the State forces and the various anti-tribal elements using devious means to undermine our activities aimed at furthering the tribal cause," it said and added that any such move on their part in future would be looked at with suspicion and dealt with accordingly.

Announcing their agitation plan for the current week, a statement issued today by the JAC said their general strike would be relaxed for 8 hours from 5 am to 1 pm every day, effective from tomorrow till next Monday.

Shops and establishments or offices other than Government offices may remain open during these relaxation periods, according to the JAC.

Detailing their plans, the JAC said peace rally by women groups who hold dharnas will be held tomorrow at 2.30 pm.

The protesters will converge at Public ground where three Inpis/Councils will address them.

On Wednesday and Friday, the dharnas and prayer which is set to be held every time the relaxation is not in force will be supplemented by a candle-lit dharna, while on Thursday women groups will again converge at Lamka Public ground around 4.30 pm with a torch rally from their respective dharna points and they would be addressed by leaders of UPF, KNO and the JAC.

On Saturday, a human chain from Kangvai to the district hospital � where the nine 'martyrs' are kept will be formed as part of its agitation beginning 1pm, while on Sunday Churches will conduct mass prayer at their respective Churches.

It may be mentioned here that Churches across the district have stopped ringing the Church bells since the past week to mourn the death of nine 'martyrs' and is likely to continue until their mortal remains are laid to rest.

In many localities, the normal Church services had given way to mass prayer services that continue for hours at a stretch whereas several other had opened up their Church doors for prayer round the clock.

On Monday, the agitation, if no new notices are served, will be mainly of candle-lit dharna.

The JAC is expected to announce further plans for their agitation before those announced today are over.

Meanwhile, the JAC finance sub-committee has announced that it will collect a sum of hundred rupees each from every tribal household in the State to help the nine 'martyrs' families and those injured while protesting the anti-tribal Bills.