Protests continue in Manipur over fake encounter killing

Protest over Fake Encounter Killing , May 23 2009( File Picture)

IMPHAL/NEW DELHI – Scores of protestors in Manipur and New Delhi took to streets to protest against the killing of a youth in an alleged fake encounter.

Holding placards and banners accusing the police for fake killing, scores of protestors marched through Imphal and raised slogans against the government.

The irate public also burnt the effigies of the Chief Minister and the Director General of Police.

Protestors demanded stringent action against the police commandos involved in the July 23 incident.

Meanwhile, all the market places and other business establishments remained closed and the inter-State as well as inter-district transport services were suspended, as the 48-hour general strike called by a social organisation entered the second day today.

In New Delhi, scores of students staged a protest outside the Manipur house over the killing.

The protest was jointly organised by the Manipur Students Association-Delhi (MSAD) and various other organisations.

Protestors alleged that the commandoes were providing security only to the politicians.

“After this Tehelka expose, we can say that our commandoes are not our security persons rather they are just the security for the MLAs. They are just providing the security to politicians not to the civilians. We are here to protest against what is going on in Manipur,” said Shandhyarani, Manipur Students Association-Delhi.

Another protestor demanded intervention of the Central Government and a judicial probe to unearth the hidden facts.

“We are writing to Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi that unless an honest initiative comes from the Central Government then no government in Manipur is going to solve the problem,” said Modhuchandra, President, North East Support Centre and Helpline.

In what is termed as an ‘encounter’ by the police, a pregnant woman and a suspected militant succumbed to gunfire while five others were injured in the shootout on July 23 near the building of the State Legislature in Imphal. (ANI)

Indefinite curfew imposed in Imphal

Imphal: Indefinite curfew was imposed in Manipur capital on Tuesday night in view of the stepped-up agitation called by a major social outfit in protest against the killing of a youth by the police in an alleged fake encounter.

The curfew was imposed on Imphal municipal limit from 10pm, a senior official said.

Earlier in the day, normal life in the state was paralysed on the second day of the 48-hour general strike in protest against the killing on July 23.

Markets, shops and business establishments were closed while transport services between Manipur and neighbouring states were cancelled, reports said.

Major social organisation Apunba Lup called the strike in protest against the killing of Chungkham Sanjit (27) in an allegedly fake encounter on July 23 at Imphal Market complex by police commandos.

While official sources said Sanjit was killed in an encounter, according to pictures of a Delhi-based news magazine, an ‘unarmed’ Sanjit was taken by commandos near a pharmacy and shot dead.

Bureau Report