Manipur News

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.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/csos-demand-arrest-of-lai-haraoba-firing-perpetrators/

IMPHAL, May 6: A joint meeting of locals of Pallel was convened at Ibuthou Sengmai Ningthou and Nongpok Ningthou Shanglen on May 5 at 11 pm in connection with the unprovoked firing on a crowd who were performing Lai Lamthokpa for Lai Haraoba on May 5 night killing a man besides injuring four others.

The meeting presided over by Up-Pradhan of Pallel Gram Panchayat adopted certain resolutions regarding the incident.

It unanimously resolved to form a 13-member Joint Action Committee christened as `JAC Against the Killing of Moirangthem Gopal and Other Victims`™ in connection with the incident of firing.

The meeting also resolved to call a state-wide general strike on April May 6 and impose indefinite bandh on Aimol road along National Highway 102 to condemn the fatal firing.

To not accept the dead body of the deceased, compensation of Rs 15 lakh for the deceased and Rs 5 lakh for the injured victims, urge the government to bear medical expenditures for the injured victims, compensation of Rs 15 lakh for halting the Lai Haraoba mid-way, to send written statement to all the cultural organizations about the incident etc are some of the resolutions adopted during the joint meeting

Meanwhile, subsequent upon its formation, the JAC has submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister O Ibobi urging to take up necessary action against those involved in the killing of M Gopal Singh son of Late M Gourachandra, who lost his life when some unidentified persons opened fire on a group of people while they were taking out Lai Haraoba procession at Pallel Lai Lamthokching on May 5 around 8.30 pm.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/pallel-jac-imposes-indefinite-bandh-along-nh-102/

IMPHAL, May 6: A group of former cadres of the KYKL, PLA and UNLF who had surrendered before the government has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister on May 5 seeking implementation of their rehabilitation scheme, which they said had been assured to them during their surrender programme.

Speaking to media persons at the Manipur Press Club today, they threatened to resort to legal recourse if the government fails to consider their appeal.

`The Government has befooled us with false assurance of government jobs and normal mainstreaming but till date we are left high and dry without any avenues for survival and protection forthcoming` lamented Wahengbam Premananda Singh alias Ranjan alias Ipu during the press meeting.

Another member Ningthoujam Thoiba alias Gopen said, `An SDPO had wooed us into giving up arms and with great risk we had surrendered before the government trusting that the government will safeguard us and provide us a livelihood.`

Eight of us from KYKL surrendered with four pistols, however, till date the government has not given us any incentive even for these small arms, said Akoijam Bashanta Meitei alias Fighter.

He continued, `We face a lot of discrimination in society; as such our livelihood options are narrowed. Our mobility is also constrained by the threats from our former groups.`

Wahengbam Premananda stated, `In dire state I had gone to earn as a casual labourer in Wangoi but I was rearrested by Thoubal Police. I was released some seven months back and yet I am ordered to report every Sunday.`

They said they had surrendered in June 2012, January 2013, March 2013 and April 2013 in small groups during lavished celebrations hosted by the State government and were promised of jobs and protection, but now most of us work as masons.

We deserted our respective underground groups with the assurance of the government to support our mainstreaming but we are shocked at their total apathy to our deplorable situation. Such indifference with discourage others to surrender in future, said Khangembam Joychandra alias Joyradha alias Mangalpiba.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/former-militants-threaten-legal-recourse-against-state/