Imphal, February 20 2009: Even as the bereaved family members decided against taking the bodies of Kasom Khullen SDO Dr Thingnam Kishan and his two subordinate staff namely Aribam Rajen and Yumnam Token Singh until punishment of their killers, the JAC and the Apunba Lup have warned of stepping up agitation against the State Government if it fails to consider the demands placed before it within February 22 .

Adopting the resolution among others, a public meeting held at the Nityainanda Mandop of Yumnam Leikai today strongly condemned the killing and observed a two minute silence as mark of respect to the departed souls of Dr Kishan, Rajen and Token.

Attended by family members of the three victims, the public meeting proceeded with JAC convenor S Tikendrajit, social worker Th Iboyaima and senior advocate Khaidem Mani taking the dais as presidium members.

Demanding criminal proceeding against Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul Pankaj Kumar Pal and punishment of the killers, the meeting demanded that the Government produce the other three persons who too have been abducted along with Dr Kishan, Rajen and Token.

The meeting also demanded the State Government to provide a place/site where the bodies of three victims could be cremated together.

Asking the Government of India to come out with a clarification on the activities of the NSCN (IM) within the territory of Manipur in defiance of the ground rules of the ceasefire agreement signed between them , the meeting demanded that no base camp of the NSCN (IM) should be allowed to exist within Manipur as the said ceasefire agreement does not cover Manipur.

Highlighting these demands, a memorandum has also been submitted to the Chief Minister jointly by the representatives of the family members, JAC and the Apunba Lup after the meeting later during the day.

Setting February 22 as the deadline, the memorandum has also warned of launching various intense agitations from the next day if the Government fails to consider these demands.

Earlier addressing the meeting, Thingnam Ongbi Romita, wife of Dr Kishan, categorically stated 'My husband had been murdered in connivance between the NSCN (IM) and the Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul district.

So criminal proceedings should be initiated against the Deputy Commissioner'.

Turning down the ex-gratia offer of the Government, Romita said that as to the offer of MCS post she has not yet taken any definite decision.

Mother of Dr Kishan said 'Let the killers of my son be produced and punished and don't try to appease with ex-gratia and job offer.

Until the killers are produced, the body of my son would be taken for his last rites'.

Y Kenedy, elder brother of Yumnam Token, said the attitude of the State Government in coming out with offer of job and ex-gratia as prices of the deceased persons is condemnable.

'This is nothing but a ploy of the State Government.

The body should not be taken until punishment of the killers', he added.

Aribam Thoibi, elder sister of Aribam Rajen informed the gathering that the wife of Rajen is being hospitalised after hearing the news of his murder.

To ensure such incidents of killing innocent persons do not recur in the future, the bodies should not be taken until punishment of the killers and everyone should extend full support to the JAC and the Apunba Lup, she exhorted the gathering.

JAC convenor Y Khelchand questioned why the Government of India and Manipur should be keeping quiet to the activities of the NSCN (IM) like extortion, killing and roaming around with arms in the open, etc within Manipur in complete violation of the laid down ground rules of the ceasefire agreement signed with the Government of India.

Taking serious note of the latest incident, the Union Home Minister should try to bring about an end to the activities of the NSCN (IM) in Manipur, he added.

Co-ordinator of the Apunba Lup Sunil Karam observed that suspension of Ukhrul DC and SP is not the solution to the problem at hand.

The conduct of the Government in imposing indefinite curfew instead of arresting the killers to pacify the angry people is equally condemnable.

Thounaojam Iboyaima called upon the all the communities living in Manipur to stay alert from the evil designs of divisive forces which are trying to disintegrate Manipur.

Khaidem Mani asserted that as the inquiry being conducted by the Government into the incident is not going to lead anywhere, a judicial injury should be initiated.

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