JAC calls 48 hr hill dists bandh
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, October 14 2015: JAC against the killing of Khupneilal Neihsiel and Robert Hesei Kipgen has today decided to impose a 48 hr bandh in the hill districts of Manipur from midnight of October 18 to show discontentment and dissatisfaction over the delay in furnishing the magisterial probe report by the Government.

Expressing extreme displeasure over the delay in tabling the report pertaining to the magisterial probe in the alleged encounter between KNF and personnel of 8 AR on January 28, 2015 at Kadangband, the JAC Convener, Thangminlen Haokip and Secretary Lunmang alleged that the Government had assured to furnish the report within three months which is now long overdue, as 8 months have passed.

The duo also noted that the Government had constituted a magisterial inquiry vide order No.20/1(13)/2013-H(LC)/p, dated 31st January 2015 over the 'fake encounter' in which one innocent civilian and one officer of armed organization KNF was killed.

However, the authority concerned has failed to table the report despite giving repeated assurances even after 8 months had passed since the probe was initiated, added the JAC leaders.

The JAC leader further said that the delay in furnishing the report has now arouse suspicion and apprehension among the people that the Government is trying to protect the guilty personnel involved in the killing.

"The JAC and the Kuki civil bodies take strong exception of this state of affairs and consider it as violation of human rights and denial of justice to the people", asserted the JAC leader while adding that the people have placed their trust in the Government to establish the veracity of the truth since the fact that it was a fake encounter killing is very much evident.

The JAC leaders recalled that on the fateful day of January 28, the 8 AR personnel had waylaid the vehicle of the KNF men under SoO and shot them without any provocation while adding that Khupneilal Neihsiel, s/o (L) Lallam Neihsiel of Kangchup Chingkhong, an innocent man, whose car was taken along with him by the KNF men, was shot dead even after identifying himself to the 8 AR personnel as a civilian.

Khupneilal Neihsiel was the village authority secretary and also the vice president of Kuki Inpi, Twibul Lhang said the JAC leaders while adding that Robert Hesei Kipgen on the other hand was the CAO of an armed organization KNF which is under Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the State and Central Government and as such the killing without any provocation was uncalled for and against the SoO pact.

The JAC wants the magisterial inquiry report to be tabled at the earliest so that the true nature of the encounter is properly established and the guilty are punished as per law, added the JAC leaders.

It also warned that if the Government fails to furnish the report at the earliest, the JAC with the support of Kuki CSOs would be compelled to launch a strong and sustained agitation until the true nature of the fake encounter is established so that truth prevails.

In showing solidarity with the JAC, the Kuki CSOs have also decided to lend full support to the 48 hr hill districts bandh imposed by the JAC.

Comment