Imphal, May 14: In protest against the killing W Shyamjai by personnel of J & K Light Infantry after being picked up from his Moirang Ngangkhalawai residence, people of the area staged a Wakat Meepham at Moirang Ngangkhalawai today even as the JAC formed in connection with the incident has reiterated its demand for issuing arms to the people of Ngangkhalawai to protect themselves from the security forces.

Meanwhile, in protest against the killing, Tiddim road has been blocked indefinitely with effect from 5 am today.

Talking to mediapersons on the sideline of the protest demonstration, a spokesperson of the JAC said that instead of protecting the people, the security forces have been targeting their guns on innocent people.

'We could not tolerate killing of innocent youths at will by the security forces without any proper trial.

We should not remain quiet any more', the spokesperson said, adding that the people of Ngangkhalawai want guns to protect themselves from the atrocities of the security forces.

Mother of slain W Shyamjai who participated in the protest demonstration, said that her son was innocent and he took up farming to supplement the income of the family.

Demanding to know why her son was killed, the heartbroken mother strongly refuted the claim of the J& Light Infantry that her son was killed during encounter.

According to one of the protestors, the day (May 8) on which Shyamjai had been picked up was the wedding day of his elder brother.

While every one was busy preparing for the wedding ceremony, Shyamjai had been called out from by two persons in civvies.

However, his body was recovered from Ningthoukhong Kh-Khunou on May 11 .

A report had been lodged with the Moirang Police on May 10 .

Placards with slogans like 'we want gun', Shyam was an innocent civilian',' Punish the security forces involved in killing innocent people', etc were used during the protest demonstration.

As a result of the road block along Tiddim line in protest against the killing, inter-district transports stayed off the road and main market places including Ningthoukhong Bazar and Bishnupur Bazar remained closed.

Normal functioning of schools and colleges also affected as a result of the agitation.

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