IMPHAL, March 12: The JAC Namthanjang village, formed against the arrest of three church leaders has called an indefinite bandh along the National Highway 37 from midnight today following the failure of the authority concerned to release the leaders.
On the other hand, it is learnt that the three church leaders arrested by the Sapermeina police have been remanded to further police custody for 15 days by the court.
Speaking to media persons at the Manipur press club, the convenor of the Lungthuilung Riamei, appealed the general public, civil bodies, students organisation to extend their co-operation with the JAC.
The arrested church leaders including Gaikhanlung Gangmei, 42, son of Lankaolung, treasurer of church committee, Gaihempou Kamei, 50, son of Mathiuhom, Church deacon and Namthanlung Riamei, 40, son of Katangam, Church secretary, was wrongly implicated by the Sapermeina Police, he said adding that the charges levelled against them was baseless.
He pointed out that the date of arrest as mentioned by the police on its FIR report (March 9) was fabricated before claiming that the three church leaders were arrested on March 8 around 7am.
Substantiating his claimed the JAC convenor revealed that following the arrest of the trio on March 8, as the JAC apprised minister Ngamthang Haokip of the incident the same day besides a memorandum was also submitted to the Chief Minister and DGP, on March 9 to intervene into the matter, he said.
He questioned why there was a 17 hour gap in the FIR report of the police before stating that the Government and the State police which have mandate to protect and safeguard the interest of the public have manipulated the incident much against the interest of the public.
Meanwhile, alleging that the Zeliangrong Union (ZU) of threatening the JAC, it questioned the intention of the ZU.
It said “On the democratic rights of the people, the JAC questions the integrity of Zeliangrong Union (Imphal Zone) who came to threaten the chairman of the JAC on March 11 and warned that the bandh should be called off or face dire consequence.
It has further questioned as on what moral ground is the ZU opposing its democratic rights and protest.
The JAC claiming that the church leaders are innocent, has demanded the unconditional release of the three church leaders failing which it will take up extreme steps in protest against the incident.