JIRIBAM, July 18: Jiri United Committee (JUT), a collective body of various civil society organizations in Jiribam, has organized a sit-in-protest this morning at in front of the Congress Bhawan at Babupara in Jiribam protesting against the monetary demands to general public by UG groups and also against the Assam Rifles charging them of disturbing the peaceful atmosphere by using fake militants.
A silent rally was also held after the sit-in. The silent public rally which started from Babupara went passing railway crossing, Jiri bazaar and later went to ADC office and handed a memorandum to ADC in charge, to be submitted to the Chief Minister.
The protesters later stormed Jiribam police station demanding to handover UTLA (SK Thadou) general secretary James Kuki, who is presently under the custody of Jiribam police station, to them so that they can take their own course of action against him.
UTLA (SK Thadou) general secretary James Kuki was arrested by Jiri police commandos for allegedly extorting money from an oil pump in the name of KRA (U). He is said to be involved in placing of hand grenade at the oil pump and had also threaten the oil pump owners over the phone.
During the rally the protesters were holding placards which reads “We want peace”, “22 Assam Rifles don’t give bomb to fake insurgency”, “Manipur gi Home department matik chade” (Manipur’s Home department is incompetent), “Go back Assam Rifles”, etc.
A press meet was held at Jiribam Meira Paibee office. Jiri United Committee, Jiribam (JUT) convenor W Dinesh Singh speaking to the media strongly condemned the alleged act of Assam Rifles helping the UGs in serving monetary demands to oil pump, UBI, CHC, ZEO and businessmen.
“22 Assam Rifles is disturbing the peaceful atmosphere in Jiribam,” he said.
He further said that a memorandum has been submitted to the concerned authorities in regard to the incident where AR had allegedly used fake UG cadres in serving monitory demands to general public, government offices and businessmen.
He added that if the concerned authorities failed to take action against such acts ,they will intensify their agitations.