IMPHAL, 06 May: The United Committee Manipur has condemned yesterday`™s Pallel shooting incident stating that such act of targeting a religious procession is an act of sin.
Speaking to media persons, UCM organisation secretary Yk Dhiren said the incident was very unfortunate.
The press meet was held at the committee`™s office located at Lamphel.
He also said that the ugly aftermath of the incident is also regrettable. The UCM has taken stock of the situation during a visit to the area and met with the elders of the surrounding villages, he added.
The UCM team had also met with the Aimol Satu village chief in charge Khupler who has assured to cooperate in finding the culprit at the earliest, he continued.
The UCM, at the same time, appeal to the concern authorities of the State government for timely intervention to avoid any communal disharmony, he stated.
Dhiren also said that the committee shares the grief of the victim`™s family and injured individuals.
All Manipur United Clubs Organisation has also condemned the incident and stated that it will support all demands put forth by the JAC formed in connection with the unfortunate incident.
Speaking to media persons at the organisation`™s office at Kwakeithel this evening, AMUCO president Mani Khuman said AMUCO along with the United Peoples`™ Front, MAPI Council, Macha Leima, Discovery Manipur and NIPCO will support the charter of demand issued by the JAC to produce the culprits by tomorrow to bring normalcy in the area.
Condemning the act, he put pressure on the State government to book the culprit according the law of the book and said the incident has created an air of uneasiness among the people of the State especially in the Pallel area.
He further continued that the culprits should themselves surrender voluntarily before the law in order to avoid any communal outrage.
Mani further appealed to all communities to respect the sentiments of each and every community and to maintain peace and harmony.
The Umanglai Kangba Apunba Lup (UKAL) has also warned of collective action under `Nat and Chatnabi`™, if the government fails to arrest the culprits behind the indiscriminate shooting at a religious group last night at Pallel by 5pm of May 7.
Unidentified miscreants had opened indiscriminate firing at a group of people taking part in Lai Chingdokpa of Nongpok Ningthou and Sekmai Ningthou Lai Haraoba at a place between Pallel and Aimol village killing one and injuring four. The injured are presently undergoing treatment at RIMS and another at Raj Medicity.
Speaking to media persons at the UKAL office, Lailup & UKAL convener Matum Nganba said we condemn such attack on peaceful religious proceedings and demand immediate justice from the government.
He further declared that the victim of the shooting incident `Moirangthem Gopal`™ has been accorded the `Umang laigi Athoiba Mapari title and his death anniversary will be observed as `the day the Meitei Culture was challenged.`
Matum Nganba also urged all `Laiharoaba`™ celebrations to observe a 10-minute of condolence for the victim.
Meanwhile, the All Manipur Ethnical Socio-Cultural Organisation (AMESCO) has also strongly condemned the Pallel incident.
A press release of AMESCO has said that it also condoled the demise of Moiranthem Gopal of Pallel Mayai Leikai who was killed during the firing and also shared the grievances of the family members of the deceased.
All sections of the society should condemn the incident and the perpetrators should be arrested and punished according to the law, it said.
It has further appealed to the security forces posted along the highway to remain vigil against such crimes instead of just patrolling the highway.
AMESCO has also demanded that the perpetrators be arrested at the earliest, and compensations be paid to the victim as well as those injured at the earliest.
The government should also ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future, it said.
At the same time, a women-based organisation of the Aimol tribe Aimol Numeivar today staged a sit in protest decrying the killing of a devotee and injuring four others in the unfortunate incident of miscreants shooting at a religious procession at Pallel yesterday.
The demonstration was staged at the Aimol Tampak Waiting Shed in Chandel district.
A large number of women were seen holding placards condemning the unfortunate incident.
Speaking to the media persons, president of the organisation, Ch Leena Aimol said that the association strongly condemned the unfortunate incident and also shares the grief of the victim`™s family as well as the injured persons.
The people of Aimol also have no dispute and objection against the villagers of Pallel in organising such religious rituals at Laithokching, she added.
While assuring to extend all possible assistance in booking the culprit (s), she also clarified that the unfortunate incident could be committed by miscreants who were intoxicated.
She further appealed to the perpetrators to consider the hardships faced by the villagers and surrender themselves voluntarily at the earliest.
One of the protestor, Ln Romila told media persons that the people of the area also regretted the unwanted incident and that it would be unjust to hide such perpetrators. The villagers will extend whatever necessary assistance they could to book the culprits, she added.
While seeking the support and co-operation from all sides to book the culprit, she also maintained that the women organisation has resolved to banish the perpetrators from the area once their identities are decided.
The Molnoi Area Welfare Council (MAWC) and Kuki Chiefs`™ Association (KCA), Tengnoupal have condemned in the strongest terms the attack on Lai Haraoba devotees at Pallel on the fateful night of April 5 that led to the killing of a devotee and injuring four others.
In a joint statement, the bodies viewed the incident as the handiwork of anti-social elements aimed at destroying social harmony and peaceful co-existence in the area and appealed to not put the blame on tribals of the area or the whole Aimol population especially to the villagers of Aimol Satu and Aimol Chingnunghut in the interest of peace and harmony.
Culprit (s) must comply with the demands of the victim families/JAC by paying ex-gratia and adequate compensation at the earliest in order to diffuse the crisis. Molnol Area Welfare Council and Kuki Chiefs`™ Association are ready to assist the victim parties in any possible way, the statement said.
It also appealed to the government to promptly intervene and bring a lasting solution to the problem in the interest of the common people.