Manipur News

Threatens 24 hour general strike, demands magisterial enquiry

IMPHAL/ KANGPOKPI, January 29 (With inputs from our Correspondent): A Joint Action Committee formed in connection with the alleged killing of Khupneilal Neihsial and Robert Hesei has warned of a 24-hour statewide strike from the midnight of January 31 and at the same time demanded a magisterial enquiry into the alleged encounter.

Meanwhile, Kangchup Chingkhong Village Authority has clarified that Khupneilal Neihsial son of (L) Lallam Neihsial one of the victims is a bonafide citizen and secretary of Kangchup Village Authority and not related to any underground organisation.

It is worth mentioning that yesterday at about 7:30pm, the two were killed reportedly in an alleged gunfight between 8 AR and suspected KNF cadres at Kadangband some few meters away from Kadangband Bridge under Lamshang police station.

Three others identified as Helen Kuki (30) son of Chongsat of Saparmaina, Satmang Kuki (25) son of Thanglun of Keithelmanbi BM Road and Thangkholen Kuki (25) son of Thangjamang of Leimakhong were also injured in the encounter and are presently taking medical treatment at Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS).

Khupneilal`™s family informed that he left home to attend a meeting at Nakhojang village to settle a family dispute there.

Taking serious note of the nature of the incident, a public meeting was held today at Kangchup area attended by the Kuki Inpi Kangchup, Kangchup Area Human Rights Association, Kangchup Area Tribal Youth Organisation and other local bodies and formed a Joint Action Committee against the killing.

The demand was later submitted to the Chief Minister of Manipur in written form.

Speaking to the media persons at RIMS morgue JAC convenor Thangminlen Haokip said that if the government fails to constitute a magisterial enquiry into the alleged killing of a civilian Khupneilal Neihsial and a KNF cadre Robert Hesei within January 31, the JAC will be compelled to impose 24 hour statewide general strike and at the same time the death bodies will not be claimed.

Claiming otherwise to the reported encounter, Thangminlen said the security personnel shot at the team including the two from a very short range after stopping them without any warning or provocation.

He said at least the security personnel should frisked them at the first place to know their identity and added that shooting at SoO groups without verification is condemnable.

The JAC demanded the magisterial enquiry as it is the only way to know the truth said Thangminlen.

So the concern authority should look into the matter for the sake of delivery of justice in the interest of the general public.

Earlier in the day, a brief commotion ensued at RIMS mortuary over the issue of post mortem examination of the bodies.

It is learnt that with families of the both the deceased decling to claim the bodies, the police decided to proceed with the post mortem examination as unclaimed bodies. However, the bereaved family opposed leading to the brief commotion.

Later the post mortem examination was cancelled.

Meanwhile all business establishments along the NH-2 between Kangpokpi and Motbung remained closed for the entire day.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/jac-formed-against-reported-kadangband-killing-says-one-of-the-victims-is-a-civilian/

IMPHAL, January 29: The Oinam Tangleihad Okshoi Protection Committee has lifted its 48 hours bandh on NH 150 after the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh assured to withdraw its decision for allotting 188.75 acres of Oinam Tangleihad Okshoi grazing ground to the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department for plantation of fodder today.

Oinam Nagar Panchayat chairperson Oinam Budhi speaking on behalf of the protection committee said if the government doesn`™t take positive actions, the agitation will be continued with more intensity.

Oinam people launched agitations by blocking the NH-150 on January 28 and 29 in protest against the decision of the state government to hand over the Okshoi grazing ground to Veterinary and Animal Husbandry for fodder plantation.

The decision for the withdrawal of the agitation was taken after the Oinam A/C MLA Dr I Ibohalbi held talks with the Chief Minister and deputy Chief Minister on the night of January 28 along with representatives of the protection committee.

Many people from Oinam were injured in police action during the agitations yesterday.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister had assured to review the matter in the next cabinet meeting. Meanwhile, the committee thanked the Chief Minister for acting in consideration for the public grievance.

Today, Dr I Ibohanbi told the media that Okshoipat in Oinam is surrounded by Yangoi Maril on the Northern side, Meichakpi on its Southern side, while in its east lays Yangbi and in the west it`™s surrounded by Mayangpat. The portion of this lake was handed over to the locals for grazing their cattle from the Fishery department by the then Chief Commissioner in 1954. The ground was declared as belonging to the people of Oinam by the Director of Settlement on April 19, 1972 when two persons laid claims to the ground by encroaching upon it.

It got embroiled in another land dispute when 32 persons laid claims to the ground by entering it in their names in the patta record but the Meira Paibis filed a case in the High court in 1995. Later, DC Imphal West gave instructions to conduct an inquiry on who actually owned the ground. After the completion of the inquiry, DC Imphal West ordered that the land can`™t be allowed to be owned by the 32 people.

Dr I Ibohanbi met the Chief Minister twice: once in the morning along with the Deputy Chief Minister and again with the protection committee in the night. After a negotiation, the committee decided to withdraw the agitation in Oinam.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/oinam-civil-body-lifts-48-hours-tiddim-bandh/