LAMKA, September 2: Agitations against the passing of the three bills including The Protection of Manipur Peoples`™ Bill 2015 and the two related bills continued today with the formation of a JAC against the State Assembly`™s act.
The JAC has been formed by several organisations including students, women organisations among others today at the KKL Complex. Ex-ADC Churachandpur EM Mangchinkhup has been elected the chief convenor of the newly formed JAC.
The JAC has also decided not to claim the dead bodies which are lying at the Churachandpur Hospital morgue and is still deliberating on the charter of demands to be made. However, sources hinted that the JAC will be demanding a separate administration for the hill districts, punishment for the killers and compensation for the victims.
Meanwhile, in a show of support to the agitation, womenfolk of different communities of Churachandpur came out with their traditional shawls and visited the hospital where the bodies of the seven are kept.
In response to a call from the JAC to stage sit in protests, womenfolk responded by staging sit in protests in around 30 places.
Later in the day, some supporters tried to attack the Churachandpur Police Station but were pacified by the womenfolk and with the help of Churachandpur additional SP Balram Singh averted another ugly situation.
The additional SP who had cut short his five day leave had also instructed his men to not open fire against the protestor which helped in controlling the mob.
Nevertheless, some of the protestors after withdrawing from attacking the police station torched the Zonal Education Office and by evening, it was totally razed to the ground.
However, their attempt to torch the SDO office was thwarted by security personnel guarding the office.
Meanwhile, more protestors accusing the DC Churachandpur of giving shoot at sight orders resulting in the death of three yesterday also tried to attack other government buildings including the DC`™s residence that was guarded by the IRB.
The attempt to attack the DC`™s residence last night was however not endorsed by the leaders of the agitation.
Till the filing of this report there was no report of any casualty on the third day of the agitation.
Since yesterday people have been hoisting their traditional shawls in front of their homes showing support and solidarity to the dead and the agitations demanding repeal of the bills.
Meanwhile, in a joint declaration, Kuki Inpi Manipur, Hmar Inpui and Zomi Council have stated that a joint sitting of the three had unanimously acknowledge the need for separate administration for the hills of Manipur keeping in mind the present political situation.
They have also resolved to support the newly formed JAC as the body to spearhead the present agitations.
At the same time, the Autonomous District Council Churachandpur called another emergency meeting and held a two-minute silence for the seven dead.
The meeting chaired by the chairman and attended by 21 members also regretted the passing of the three bills without consulting the Hill Areas Committee.
A statement signed by the ADC chairman Langkhanpau Guite and CEO ADC Churachandpur Manmuanching said that the ADC Churachandpur will oppose the three bills from becoming Acts which infringed on the rights of the tribal of Manipur.
During the meeting, the members also resolve to demand for an enquiry by a High Court Judge into the firing during the agitation.
The members will also extend all possible help to the victims, it said.
The ADC Churachandpur has also declared its support for the JAC and to support the political movement for a separate administration of the hills under the Constitution of India and to offer land at Bungmual locality for setting up of a complex for the dead, if the JAC desires, it continued.
The ADC Churachandpur is also ready to co-operate if the JAC desire to set up the complex at another site.