IMPHAL, October 17 (Newmai News Network): Effigies of Chief Minister O Ibobi and State Home Minister Gaikhangam were on Wednesday burned by protesters during the 24-hour statewide general strike imposed by the Joint Action Committee urging deliverance of justice in the killing of Amom Rajen.
The JAC is likely to take further decision on whether to launch violent agitation in a few days time.
Rajen was found killed in West Bengal on September 27.
Meanwhile, in Kumbi Terakhong in Bishnupur district and its surrounding areas, a large number of people supporting the bandh staged several forms of agitations including protest dharnas during the strike that began from 5 am.
However, the bandh failed to produce any effect in Imphal and other districts.
A large number of bandh supporters including meira paibis in Kumbi Terakhong and its surrounding areas sat on protest dharnas from around 7 am condemning the state Government for keeping mum over the death of Rajen.
Placards reading “Resign responsible home minister and”Save Manipuris outside” were held by the demonstrators.
The protesters blocked Kumbi-Wangoo road which had disrupted traffic along the route. Several vehicles defying the road block were damaged.
The Rajen JAC has made five demands to the state Government such as to book the accused in the killing and to provide a suitable Government job to the next of kin. However, the Government has not taken any step yet to meet any of the demands till now.
Irked by the apathetic attitude of the state Government, bandh supporters burned effigies of the chief minister and the home minister at Terakhong Awang Leikai.
“We will decide tonight further course of action to launch violent agitation,” joint secretary of the JAC, Loitongbam Ibomcha told reporters.
Protest will continue until and unless all the demands of the JAC are met by the Government at the earliest, he vowed.
Ibomcha also vowed that people in Kumbi Terakhong and its neighbouring areas will never in future lend support to any agitation or movement take up by major NGOs in the state because they have sidelined and neglected the issue of Rajen.
Amom Ongbi Bina, wife of the victim Rajen said she condemns the state Government in the strongest term for not heeding to the voice of the JAC which has also submitted representations to it time and again to address the issue.
She, however, made an appeal to the Government to kindly consider about herself and her children and take prompt action over the death of her husband.
Rajen was reportedly found dead at a place about 10 km from Howrah Railway Station in West Bengal on September 27 last.
Protesting the alleged silence maintained by the state Government over the death, the Rajen JAC has called the 24-hour Manipur bandh which ends at 5 am tomorrow.
No unwanted incident was so far reported during the course of the strike. The bandh failed to produce any effect in Imphal and other districts. All the Government establishments and educational institutions were opened as normal. All the business centres were also carried out their normal activities and both public and private transports were seen playing and servicing on the roads.
