IMPHAL, February 15: The Joint Action Committee formed against the alleged killing of Khupneilal Neihsiel and Robert Hesei Kipgen at Kadangband on January 28 by 8 Assam Rifles has decided to impose economic blockade for five days with effect from February 18.
The decision to impose the blockade was arrived at against the State government`™s failure to produce the magisterial inquiry report within the set 15-day deadline, informed the JAC.
According to a statement issued by the JAC`™s convenor Thangminlen Haokip and co-convener Lunmang, the JAC had made it clear to the government to furnish the inquiry report regarding the alleged Kadangband encounter in which a civilian driver, Khupneilal Neihsiel and the Central Administrative Officer CAO of KNF Robert Hesei Kipgen were shot dead while three others were grievously injured.
However, the government has miserably failed to establish the veracity of the fake encounter, it said.
The statement continued that the JAC has contemplated a State-wide general strike and remonstration, however, in view of the ongoing HSLC ad HSSLC examinations it has instead decided to resort to economic blockade so as to not disturb the exams.
The JAC, it said will also make sure there is no disruption both in transportation and in exam centres and also wants to reassure the students of peace of mind, support and cooperation.
It has further stated that the JAC and Kuki civil bodies had opted for a magisterial inquiry in lieu of the judicial inquiry with a view for immediate commencement and early culmination of the inquiry but the government`™s apathy towards the gesture by delaying the inquiry is hurtful.
The nature of the killing incident requires swift delivery of justice since an innocent civilian driver and a CAO of a SoO signatory of Kuki armed organization were slain in a fake encounter, it alleged.
The JAC has resorted to this extreme method of protest with the resolve to halt the repeated human rights violation by the Assam Rifles of which every person in the State irrespective of tribe or community is a victim in one way or another.
Most importantly, the JAC appeals to all state and inter-state transporters of economic goods to respect the blockade and abstain from any act of defiance that would aggravate the prevailing tension, it said.