IMPHAL, December 31: The Zeliangrong Students’ Union has called an indefinite National Highway bandh from tomorrow midnight, following an alleged fake encounter by 10 Assam Rifles.
This was informed to media persons by the student body at a press meet held this evening at Manipur Press Club.
ZSU general secretary, Kadizanbou Pamei, speaking to media persons, said that one of the former cadre of Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) identified as Gongsingam Dangmei, 18, son of Gongbi Dangmei, a resident of Noney Bazar, along with another civilian W Nanao alias Handsome, 22, son of Birkumar of Wabagai Tera Keithel presently staying at Noney, were apprehended at around 10 pm last night by 10 Assam Riffles personnel.
He said that they were picked up by 10 AR and were taken away blindfolded from Lukhambi Village also known as Khungji.
He further said that Nanao was later released on the same day after he was beaten up by AR personnel while the dead body of Gongsingam Dangmei was found near Sangji Village, 27 km away from Noney.
The dead body is still lying in JNIMS morgue and is yet to be claimed. The ZSU general secretary said that the dead body of the deceased will not be claimed from the JNIMS morgue till their demands are not met. He also added that till amicable solutions are brought, ZSU will impose indefinite blockage on National Highway 37 starting from tomorrow midnight.
While condemning the act of 10 AR, he demanded trail of the culprit according to Zeliangrong customary law and also demanded withdrawal of 10 AR post from Noney.
ATSUM spokesperson Mazabung Kamei, who was also present at press meet, said that the slogan of AR ‘Friends of the hills people’ does not hold true. He stated that this arbitrary killing is not the first time in the state and further called for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Power Act 1958.