Locals resolve against sale and use of drugs in fall-out of Kiran incident

IMPHAL, March 20: The JAC formed against the alleged murder of Thokchom Kiran Singh of Koiru, Thongju Part II called an emergency meeting today at the locality where in, it was decided that the general strike imposed by the JAC in the area will continue.

Road blocks were put up at several locations in Imphal today against the alleged murder of driver Th Kiran Singh.

According to a press release of the JAC, the meeting has decided to exempt students from the purview of the general strike and to appeal to the civil bodies, NGOs, meira paibis and student organizations to support the agitation.

The JAC had also submitted a memorandum to the state Chief Minister yesterday apprising the CM about the incident.

The memorandum has called upon the CM to take appropriate actions and said that the JAC had conducted a meeting on March 19 at Yumjao Lairembi Community Hall, Koiru Mamang Leikai, Thongju Pt II, Imphal East.

Further according to the memorandum, the JAC has demanded life imprisonment/capital punishment for those involved in the alleged murder case of (L) Kiran Singh and the immediate arrest of the remaining main accused who are still absconding and permanent ex-communication of the main accused from the concerned localities.

The demands also include forfeiting of all properties both movable and immovable belonging to the main accused and declaration of the forfeited land as state property.

While setting a three day deadline for the government to act on the demands mentioned in the memorandum, the JAC has said that in case of failure on the part of the government to meet the demands, the JAC with help from civil organizations will launch further agitations, strikes etc.

The JAC had also decided not to receive the dead body until the demands are met.

On the other side, a public meeting presided by Md Kamaluddin of Kiyamgei and attended by people of Bashikhong, Kiyamgei muslim and Kiyamgei meetei villages was held today at Kongba Irong Bridge. The meeting minutely minutely discussed the incident and condemned it strongly.

During the meeting, the public resolved to ban selling, purchasing and use of drugs with immediate effect in the area.

It further appealed to the people of the state in general and the localities in particular, not to let the incident take a communal tone and raise a communal flare up.

It also resolved to support any decision taken by the JAC. The meeting further shared the grievances of the deceased family and urged the state government to award befitting punishment to the accused.The meeting was attended by representatives of the United Farmer Organisation Manipur, Anjuman Islahi-Umat-Kiyamgei muslim, Bashikhong Kongba Irong Women Welfare Association, Bashikhong Panthoibi Bazaar Women Welfare Association, Thonga Leirak Meira Paibi Mangal Lup, and Kongba Irong Ichil Kabaristan Committee.

Meanwhile, locals put road blocks at Singajamei Mayeng Leikai with the markets at Singajamei and Kakwa downing shutters. Protest road blocks were also witnessed at Khurai Lamlong bazar.