TSA calls 36 hours bandh starting from January 16

IMPHAL | Jan 11

The Thadou Students’ Association (TSA) has imposed a 36-hour bandh beginning in the morning of January 16 against failure of state government in bringing justice for the Sugnu double murder and rape cases and non-introduction of Thadou Kuki (MIL) subjects at Higher Secondary Schools in the valley.

The bandh will be enforced on Imphal-Moreh, Imphal-Dimapur, Imphal-Jiribam and Imphal-Churachandpur roads.

In a press statement released by the General Headquarters (TSA-GHQ) stated that the bandh was called over the delaying of justice against murder cases in Tengnoupal and Chandel districts, and non-introduction of Thadou Kuki (MIL) subjects at Higher Secondary Schools in the valley.

It said the state government fails to bring justice in the 5th May 2017 Sugnu double murder case, the brutal murder of Mr.Thongkhogin Haokip, an assistant teacher at Molnom Junior High School, Tengnoupal district, on February 29, 2016.

21-year-old private school teacher Miss Nengkhokim Haokip alias Cicilia/Shila from Moltinchan village in Chandel district was allegedly gang-raped and brutally murdered and her dead body found near Sugnu. Mr Kaikholen Tuboi was also found brutally murdered, added the statement.

Despite repeated appeals to the authorities concerned for justice, the culprits have not been brought to justice to date. A team of TSA met with the Superintendent of Police, Kakching district, investigating officer (SDPO Kakching) of this case and ADGP (L&O) in this regards. TSA has on December 22, 2017 served an ultimatum to the home department, to bring justice in the case on or before January 10, 2018, but no satisfactory action has been taken up to date. Had the government been really serious about such a heinous crime and fulfilling the Memorandum of Understanding it reached with the JAC on May 6, the culprits would have been arrested long time back and justice already delivered, said the press statement. 

As regards the introduction of Thadou-Kuki (MIL) Subjects in the higher secondary schools in the valley, the state government has in 2016 already issued an order for introduction of the same. But, the order still remains a mere piece of paper and it has not been implemented till now. TSA considers this as a deprivation of the rights of the Thadou tribal students to their language.

If the government fails to fulfil our demand in public interest, TSA will launch further course of agitation until the demands are fulfilled, TSA warned.

We urge the general public, passenger service vehicles and other civil society organisations to support the bandh for the sake of justice, said the press statement signed by Michael Lamjathang Haokip, secretary general, TSA.