General strike called to protest father-son killing
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 18 2011: In denunciation of the brutal murder of PHED care-taker Soram Ibomcha and his son Yaipu by the armed KCP-MTF (Kesho Meitei) group as well as decrying alleged indifferent attitude by the Government on the issue, steering committee conve-nor of the JAC, formed against the double murder has declared that a 24 hour general strike would be enforced from December 19 midnight.

Protesting against the double murder, agitated locals of Irilbung also set ablaze effigies of Kesho Meitei of KCP-MTF (Kesho Meitei) and PHED chief Engineer M Imomacha at Iril0 bung after staging sit-in protest there.

speaking to newspersons this afternoon at Irilbung, the native place of the victims, steering committee convenor Manihar Luwang explained that the general strike call is to protest failure of the State's law enforcing machinery to rescue the father-son duo from the clutches of the abductors and lack of initiative to take punitive action against PHED Chief Engineer Mangsatabam Imomacha, whom the JAC accused of being responsible for the death of Ibomcha and Yaipu.

Effigies of KCP-MTF's Kesho Meitei and CE Imomacha set ablaze

Manihar contended that the Chief Minister's inaction to initiate punitive action against the Chief Engineer has compelled the JAC to launch agitation.

Acknowledging that people are fed up with bandh or general strike, he nevertheless sought cooperation of the masses in the JAC's pursuit for punishing all those responsible for the death of Ibomcha and his young son.

On behalf of the JAC, Manihar made a fervent appeal to the people to cease work on December 20 .

He also disclosed that at the time of abducting Ibomcha and Yaipu the armed persons not only informed that they were being taken away to settle score with the PHED authorities, who reportedly defied monetary demand but also handed a telephone number for the PHED officials to contact them.

While claiming that the Chief Engineer was conveyed on the demand of the abductors, the convenor also confided that the abductors telephoned some close relatives of the victims and threatened of dire consequences if the PHED authorities do not honour their demand.

On the pleas of the captives that the Chief Engineer immediately intervene to resolve the issue, some Irilbung residents approached M Imomacha at his residence only to be rebuked by the Chief Engineer who even directed the security personnel to drive out the visitors as presence of KCP activists among them could not be ruled out, recounted Manihar.

Describing the CE's conduct as inhumane and irresponsible, the convenor opined that holding Imomacha equally responsible for the death of the father and son is justifiable.

It is also reported that Ibomcha's wife and her daughter in law namely Seityamala (Yaipu's wife) attempted to commit suicide on the same morning of recovering bodies of the father and son, said Manihar while adding that the locals have been maintaining vigil round the clock to prevent such extreme step.

Vehemently condemning the slaying of Ibomcha and Yaipu, Manihar posed why the son who had no relationship whatsoever with the monetary demand served to PHED should be victimised.

He further opined that rather than put the surviving family members in such a perilous situation for no fault of theirs, it would have been better had all the family members been slain too.

It is also informed that the Soram family shifted to the PHED quarter at the water supply scheme after enrolment to the Department.

Prior to shifting their place of residence they were staying at the Baruni foothills.