Cold storage likely for 'martyrs'
Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite

CCpur, October 17 2015 : The nine 'tribal martyrs' who were killed in protest against the three 'anti-tribal' Bills passed by the Manipur Assembly may eventually get a permanent cold storage to preserve their bodies if the initiative taken up by the Joint Philanthropic Organisation (JPO) with the Govern- ment of Manipur sees the light of day before their last rites.

The Government has issued an order to procure 2 sets of 6-body mortuary cabinets from M/s RS Cooling Appliances, an authorised dealer of M/s Blue Star Limited, Guwahati at the cost of Rs 16,24,750 yesterday, the JPO leaders told reporters here today.

As and when the cold storage mortuary are installed, all the nine bodies that are preserved for the past one month and a half will be significantly put at ease by employing improvised approach of utilising ice-cubes, pumpkins, air-conditioners, and several liquids including Lemon Grass.

The present exercise requires the JPO to replace the ice-cubes and the pumpkins almost on a daily basis.

The cold storage will also reduce the burden of three youths who had volunteered to upkeep the 'martyr bodies' until they are put to their final resting place.

Nevertheless, the procurement and installation process is believed to take some more time but the JPO leaders who had first approached the CMO Churachandpur in the last week of September believed it will be realised sooner than later.

Meanwhile, the JAC Churachandpur has today reiterated that the agitation plans it had set afoot and relaxation period from 5am to 2pm everyday remains intact.

The bandh and dharnas will resume at 2pm and will continue till 5pm at the six identified points while a total bandh should be enforced by all village authorities/committees within their locality between 5pm to 5am of the following day.

Medical, electricity, telecom, water supply, media bank and treasury are being exempted from the entire agitation purview.

The JAC team who had left for Delhi last week to meet the President as well as other Central leaders have today maintained that they actively engaged with various Ministries in New Delhi but refused to divulge details of their engagement nor named the leaders they have met.

"The day will definitely come when we will publicly declare what is being discussed or achieved," said a leader who refused to be named as well, when contacted.

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