IMPHAL, April 18: Amidst a public uproar following the murder of Keisham Premila whose charred body was found on April 9 from a hillock, a news report which was carried in today’s edition of a local daily reporting that Premila was pregnant at the time of her murder created another uproar with womenfolk of her locality and the JAC formed against the killing storming the Kakching police this morning at around 11am. It further delayed Premila’s cremation which was supposed to be held in the morning.
The dead body was cremated later in the evening after a formal apology from the concerned editor and the All Manipur Working Journalist Union president. The concerned editor has further assured that his newpaper will carry a formal apology in tomorrow’s edition.
The uproar was created by the news report quoting the police which came in today’s edition of the said publication, and hence the police station was gheraod. Premila’s cremation was delayed as the JAC and family members had decided not to cremate her until the confirmation on the news report comes out.
Police however managed to pacify the angered locals and cleared that the news report had wrongly quoted the police. The police further clarified that they have no idea about the report, until it came out in the newspaper this morning.
Kakching OC Nandababu informed mediapersons, “It came as a shock that the police was quoted in the news report and it will only defamed the police in the public’s eye”.
SDPO Kakching Aribam Ghanashyam Sharma further seconding the OC termed the incident as unfortunate.
JAC members and the locals while decrying the news report as baseless added that it seemed to be carried with the motive to defame Premila.
Locals were seen holding a sit in protest since this early morning at the Wabagai Lamkhai.
Meanwhile, agitations against the killing of Premila continues unabated in the state.
A sit-in protest was staged in front of the Govindajee temple gate, Palace Compound which was participated by leaders of Momun Irikhombi Lup, Kanglei Women’s Society, Konung Mamang Meira Paibi, Young Horizon, Meelal, Women Action for Development and Women empowerment and Justice.
The women bodies are with the JAC and will support it, a spokesperson told reporters.
She also insisted that there is no respite from such crime as the government reprieves all the individuals who are involved in such cases like rape and murder in the state.
The women demonstrators also strongly condemned the killing of Premila.
Another sit-in protest was staged at Khurai Heikrumakhong Primary School ground wherein leaders of different Meira Paibi bodies, including local clubs took part.
The sit-in protest was participated by leaders of Kairang Awang Leikai Meira Paibi, Friends’ Union Club, Muslim Women Development Association, Khumidak Meira Paibi and Leimarol Meira Paibi.