IMPHAL, August 4: Pointing out that the government`™s decision to close down all educational institutions from July 9 in fear of reprisal from the students following the death of Sapam Robinhood has only aggravated the ongoing mass movement, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) said that resumption of class in the educational institutions from August 3 by an order of the government will not succeed to deter the mass movement.
A press statement signed by assistant media co-ordinator of JCILPS Md Kheirudin Shah Moijingmayum asserted that students agitating to press for enactment of an acceptable bill despite the resumption of class in the educational institutions is obvious given the fact that the body of Sapam Robinhood who was killed in the hands of police during a protest demonstration is still lying in JNIMS morgue.
The refusal to accept Robinhood`™s body is due to the utter failure of the government to pass a new bill acceptable to all sections of the people and suspend those police personnel involved in the killing of the young student, it said.
The deceased`™s parents are still in pain anticipating about the due performance of last rites of their son, it said.
How can the students attend class and listen to lecture before Robinhood`™s last rites are performed, the statement asked.
It further accused the government of using excessive police forces against student protestors.
Reiterating that what the committee and people want from the government is only enough political will to pass a new bill to safeguard the indigenous people from the unchecked influx of outsiders into the State, it cautioned the people against the agents who are trying to divert the people`™s attention from the ongoing mass movement.
The JCILPS in its statement appealed to the protestors and supporters of ILPS movement not to cause disturbance to media persons, medical services, religious procession, ambulance and water supply during the ongoing state-wide 48-hour general strike imposed by JCILPS Students`™ Wing.
The committee also demanded the government to take up stringent action those police personnel who caused injuries to ILPS protestors including students so that they being policemen do not commit such brutality in future.
Meanwhile, the JCILPS Students`™ Wing has vehemently condemned the police brutality against student protestors mainly the act of police officer G Thaingampou (City Unit Commando) who was seen pulling hair of a girl student protestor in broad daylight.
In a statement, the Students`™ Wing asked the deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who also holds the portfolio of Home as to why no action has been taken up against the erring police officer yet.
The Students`™ Wing also demanded resignation of Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro for allowing the police clampdown on student protestors who were protesting outside his office at New Secretariat demanding introduction of ILPS in the State and resumption of normal class in their educational institutions.
Several key government offices including ZEO Imphal East; Trade & Commerce Department; Census Department, Porompat; Nehru Yuva Kendra, Porompat; Art & Culture Department, Konung Mamang; SDC Wangoi; SDO Wangoi and ZEO Wangoi have been closed down as part of the agitation launched by the Students`™ Wing, the statement claimed.
It also appealed to its supporters and ILPS protestors to allow free passage to media persons, medical services and religious procession during the ongoing general strike.