Imphal, August 17: Even though full preparations were made to perform the last rites of MSF Bishnupur Dist adviser Pebam Chittaranjan Mangang in a fitting manner today, representatives of Apunba Lup refused to take back the body from RIMS Morgue as a mark of protest against the State Govt's failure to meet the conditions laid down by the Lup.

With additional security personnel put on high alert in and around the RIMS Morgue, post mortem on Chittaranjan's body was conducted at around 10.30 am after the arrival of the victim's family members and representatives of Apunba Lup.

Talks between the Chief Minister and locals of Takhel Leikai, where Chittaranjan was born and brought up, broke down with the Govt sticking to its stand that the funeral rites of the deceased man should be held either at Imphal or Bishnupur, though the local people put forward the suggestions that the body be first taken to Bishnupur under tight security and the funeral be held at Imphal.

Incensed people of Takhel Leikai informed the press, that though they offered to talk to the Apunba Lup not to take the body all over the place but to Bishnupur and then back to Imphal, the Chief Minister refused to accept the compromise formula.

The local people said that they assured that no slogans would be raised and their only request was to allow them to take the body to Bishnupur where tributes may be paid and the body be cremated at Imphal.

This was flatly turned down by the CM, they alleged.

Following the completion of the post mortem, police personnel deployed in the area informed the family members and representatives of Apunba Lup about the Govt's decision to allow the body to be taken only through the route provided by the Govt via Naoremthong, Tera, Sayang, Kwakeithel before heading either to Bishnupur or Takhel Leikai.

The police personnel also pointed out that the Govt strongly opposed the Lup's decision to take the victim's body to Bishnupur before consigning it to flames at Takhel Leikai, Imphal.

Moreover the Govt prohibited the use of banners on the vehicles or taking along a band party while carrying back the body for his last rites.

Agitated at the decision of the State Govt, Apunba Lup members strongly objected the the route provided by the Govt and demanded the Govt to allow the body to be first taken to Bishnupur before bringing it back to Takhel Leikai for cremation.

They also demanded that the public of Bishnupur should also be allowed to pay their respect to the departed soul.

Meanwhile, SP Imphal West who arrived at the scene at around 2 pm tried to pacify the irate family members saying but failed as all his pleas fell on deaf ears.

Unable to break the ice with the police personnel, a four member team of Apunba Lup along with Ex MLA Loken met Chief Minister O Ibobi and pressed for their demand by assuring that the procession would be peaceful and they would be responsible for any untoward incident.

The Chief Minister however flatly refused the demand of the Apunba Lup and asked that Lup representative to either cremate the body at Keithel Leikai or at Bishnupur without bringing back the body at Takhel Leikai.

Following the failure of the talks between the CM and the Apunba Lup representatives, police personnel at RIMS morgue forced all the people except for the family members of Chittaranjan to leave the premises.

Infuriated a the conduct of the police personnel everyone including the family members left the area without the victim's body.

It may be noted here that preparations for paying floral tribute to the Chittaranjan were also taken up at Bishnupur Bazar today.

A large number of people who had come from Bishnupur to take back Chittaranjan's body from RIMS Morgue were forced to return from Hodam Leirak area today by security personnel.

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