Meitei Pangal among 5 dead at Jalpaiguri

IMPHAL, August 20: After the recovery of two more bodies near New Jalpaiguri Railway Station, the death toll has risen to four including one from Manipur on Sunday.

The deceased has been identified as one Md Sarif son of Md Jonamuddin of Lilong Haoreibi Turel Ahanbi, Thoubal district, who is a student of M.Sc Geography first semester in Bishop Cotton College Bangalore.

The Train (Guwahati Special No 3) was carrying a large number of people who had hurriedly left Bangalore apprehending serious threats from radical elements in the Karnataka capital.

The Northeast Frontier Railway authorities are yet not sure of the cause of the fight inside the special train that led to the deaths of North Easterner.

However, the two bodies found yesterday were those of passengers hailing from Hailakandi in Assam. Cachar district is on high alert after the incident. Sources said unidentified persons attacked passengers traveling in the special train and also snatched their luggage and belongings.

Meanwhile, after receiving the news of the death of a Manipuri student an emergency meeting was convened today at Lilong Haoreibi Turel Ahanbi by the locals. During the meeting a JAC against the brutal killing of Md Sarif Ahmed at NJP, West Bengal was formed, said Md Zaki rHussain, convener of the newly form JAC during a press conference today evening at Manipur Press Club.

He told media persons that the family members of Md Sarif Ahmed were informed by the Lilong police about his death.

He further continued that an emergency meeting has resolved to demand the state government to take up immediate steps to bring out the culprits involved in the crime and to punish them.

The meeting has also resolved to urge the state government to make security arrangement for the students studying outside the state.

The meeting further resolved to submit a memorandum each to Chief Minister, Home Minister, and other concerned officials with a charter of demands and if the state government failed to fulfill the demands by August 25, the JAC will launch various forms of agitation, he added.      

Meanwhile, a joint statement of the All Manipur Muslims’ Organization Coordinating Committee (AMMOCOC), Muslim Students’ Union of Manipur (MSUM) and Pangal Students’ Organization (PSO) Manipur has strongly condemned the killing of the Manipuri student.