IMPHAL, May 10: Demanding the reopening of commando outpost at Kanglatongbi IB and arrest of the two remaining accused in the firing incident on Rakesh Shah within three days from May 11, 2015, a JAC formed in connection with the shooting has threatened imposition of several forms of agitations along Imphal-Dimapur section of NH-2 if its demands are not fulfilled.
There was a huge turnout at the sit-in demonstration held at Kanglatongbi which was called to protest the failure of the administration to book the remaining two accused in the shooting incident who are still at large although two of their accomplice are already in the custody of the state police.
Speaking to media persons at the side line of the protest, member of the JAC, Prescilla Thuimei, said, during late evening of April 22 last, some armed miscreants shot at a student, Shah, in the attempt to kidnap him. She said, the perpetrators were linked to Kuki-based underground groups who are under Suspension of Operation and they had intended to capture him in order to seek a ransom of Rs 30 lakhs.
She said, according to information input available from reliable sources two of the four people involved in the shooting had been arrested while two are still absconding. She questioned the inability of the authority to nab the two absconders although two of their accomplices are in police custody.
The action of the state government in catching the remaining culprits have been noticed to be very slow and it has drawn strong condemnation from the people of Kanglatongbi, she said adding that the demand of the public is to book them under NSA. If possible, the person who fired at the student leaving him wounded should be handed to the public so that he receives a befitting punishment.
We do not want to impose bandh along the highways. However, such a critical situation and inconveniences have arisen due to the negligence of the administration and degradation of law and order. Unfortunately, the only way to wake up the authority now is to block the highways, she said.
The suffering of the victim’s family is not ending shortly as the group has reportedly served a fresh demand of Rs 50 lakhs, a surplus of Rs 20 lakh from the initial demand. The family also received threatening SMSs from the same group asking how long the police can protect them and warning them that its members will shoot to kill if the demand is not met.
In order to bring normalcy in the area the authority had opened a commando outpost at Kanglatongbi IB but Kuki people objected and demanded its withdrawal.
It was subsequently shifted to Panchayat Ghar, Kanglatongbi at present.
She questioned the reasons for withdrawal of the commando camp from Kanglatongbi IB pointing out that this place is a part of Imphal West district from British period and known as Kanglatongbi Bangla Darg. “So it is not under Sadar Hills, Senapati District. So brothers and sisters of Sadar Hill do not protest for its shifting because Kanglatongbi IB is under Imphal West District not Senapati district,” she said.
We need to open the Cdo Outpost in order to prevent extortion of money from people in Kanglatongbi. The threats and monetary demands have only come from Kuki underground cadres operating from Sardar Hills areas, she stated.
At present people of Kanglatongbi bordering Sadar Hill of Senapati are victimized and every middle class household are pressurised for monetary pay off. The torture and fear tactics released by Kuki UG Groups started from long years back. Even principals of schools were held captive in their custody for more than two weeks, and another shopkeeper was also held in custody for monetary demand. So the opening of the outpost in the border area at Kanglatogbi IB is the need of hour in order to safeguard of general public of Kanglatongbi.
The demand of the JAC is retain the Cdo Out post at Kanglatongbi IB, book the accused under NSA and award compensation and security to victim Rakesh who is still fighting for his life at a hospital, said Prescilla Thuimei.