IMPHAL, August 22: The JAC initiated against the killing of van driver O Gyanendro of Singjamei Okram Leikai has announced a ‘24 hour total Manipur bandh’ from 5am of August 23.
The bandh was announced after a meeting of the JAC members and other civil society organisations held at Singjamei Community hall against the government’s failure to arrest the person involved in the killing of the driver.
After the meeting, womenfolk of Singjamei along with JAC members took out a protest rally heading towards the Chief Minister’s Bungalow however but were stopped by a team of Singjamei police at Singjamei Chingamathak. Some members of the JAC were later allowed to meet the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, even before the 24 hours bandh commenced, protesters came out in large numbers and blocked National Highway 2 today. Shops in Singjamei to Kakwa also remained closed.
The police diverted all the vehicles coming on the National Highway 2 towards Heirangoithong and Mayailambi.
It may be mentioned that O Gynendro was shot dead by unknown persons inside his Maruti Van on August 18 at around 1.30 pm at Chandranadi Road under Wangoi police station in Imphal West.