IMPHAL, December 26 (Newmai News Network): The Film Forum Manipur and Manipur State Shumang Leela Council in collaboration with various civil society organizations of the state have announced that the indefinite Manipur general strike protesting the Chandel incident will continue from midnight of December 26 but that the strike will end December 27 evening at 6 pm.
The decision was announced to the media on Wednesday, after leaders of various civil society organizations, FFM and MSSLC held a joint meeting at the Community Hall at Kwakeithel Akham Leikai.
They decided to further carry on with protests led by the groups since December 21 midnight against the Chandel incident wherein film artiste Kh Momoko was assaulted by Livingstone, a self-styled Lt. Col. of NSCN-IM during a concert held at Chandel High School ground, Chandel district on December 18.
Stating that the strike will go on till 6 pm of December 27, representatives of the groups appealed to the public to register mass protests against the Chandel incident by organizing sit-ins and rallies even after the strike ends. Essential service, medical and religious activities, water supply, media and communication will not be covered within the purview of the bandh, they added. They also urged the Government of India to book Livingstone and hand him over to the state Government so that he could be tried and punished under the law. They further demanded that all the camps of NSCN-IM in Manipur should be demolished as the ceasefire pact signed between the Central Government and the Naga outfit has not been extended in Manipur.
Condemning the molestation of a tribal girl at Napetpali in Imphal East on December 24, the representatives of the civil society organizations, FFM and MSSLC demanded that all the accused in the incident should be booked and punished as per the law.
They also demanded for all the police personnel involved in the killing of Dwijamani, a stringer of DDK, Guwahati to be given befitting punishment, they demanded. Dwijamani was killed in a police firing at Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai December 23 while he was covering the indefinite Manipur bandh.