On the other hand, atleast two strike supporter sustained bullet injuries when security personnel fired upon a group of protestors in an attempt to disperse the mob which had reportedly set ablaze a Sub-post office of Kangpokpi situated at Kalapahar late last night.
A team of media persons were briefed by SHDDC secretary, Tonghen Kipgen, today at Kangpokpi bazaar.
According to Tonghen the Chief Minister of Manipur has today invited the committee for negotiation which was however rejected by the committee as it has decided not to give any room for negotiation of any kind unless their demand for a separate full fledged Sadar Hills district is granted by the government.
He further asserted that even if the government uses forces to suppress the peoples’ movement the committee is all prepared to confront any form of forces.
Referring to the request of the JNIMS on the shortage of oxygen, Tonghen clarified that the committee is helpless on the request of JNIMS and asserted that JNIMS should instead make the request to the government of Manipur.
It may be mentioned that JNIMS medical superintendent had in a press statement yesterday stated that as a consequence of the economic blockade and the ongoing general strike of the Sadar Hill District Demand Committee, the J.N. Hospital, Porompat, is facing acute shortage of oxygen and other medicinal gases resulting to cancellation of routine operations and had further appealed to the Sadar Hill District Demand Committee to allow the trucks carrying empty oxygen cylinders from Imphal to Guwahati and full cylinders from Guwahati to Imphal to pass through the National Highway No.-39 without any disturbance and to ensure full security and protection of the trucks carrying oxygen cylinders on humanitarian ground and in greater interest of patient care.
In the meantime, the identities of the two injured strike supporters, who sustained bullet injuries, have been established as Thangkhalal Lhouvum, 17, s/o Leikhohao and Thangjalien, 18, s/o Sheihanmang, both residents of Keithelmanbi.
Repots said that the duo was injured when security forces fired upon a mob, in an attempt to disperse a group of supporters who were torching a sub post office at Kalapahar around 10:30 pm last night.
Reports further said that another three offices including the SDO office Saitu, office of the Deputy Inspector of School, Saitu Gamphajol and social welfare office Gamnawm Saparmeina were also set ablaze by the strike supporters in the wee hours today around 3 am.
With the objective to completely bare movement of vehicles, strike supporters today dug up three feet width and about 4 feet deep stretch of the NH-2 at Gampiphai. Besides that, similar ditch was also created along the Koubru stretch.
Meanwhile, about 11 passenger buses that have been stranded at Senapati since the beginning of the strike has today left Senapati heading towards Imphal via Jessami road, Ukhrul.