Imphal: A 24-hour general strike called by a
local committee to protest the killing of a PHED department
chowkidar and his son by militants, paralysed normal life in
Manipur on Tuesday, official reports said.
The strike called by Joint Action Committee (JAC) began
from midnight last night to protest the killing and demanding
immediate arrest of the persons responsible for the killing.
Reports said normal life in the all the hill and valley
districts was also affected by the general strike called by
the JAC. Markets and shops were closed.
"The father and son were killed when their
department did not give Rs 20 lakh demanded by the militants,"
said several social organisations in separate statements,
asking how could a chowkidar and his son pay the amount.
Statements issued by several organisations expressed
"utter shock" and said Manipur has become "prehistoric
period."
Manipur Public Health Engineering Department (PHED)
minister T N Haokip has expressed shock over the killings.
"The chowkidar Ibombcha Singh was not even a regular
employee, Haokip had said adding that the killers were "not
human beings."
A militant faction had said they were "involved in the
killings of Ibomcha Singh and his son Yaiphu" who were
kidnapped on December 7 last from Irilbung area in Imphal east
district and their bodies found on December 16 last.
The militant faction had demanded payment of Rs 20 lakh
from the PHED department for the safe release of the father
and his son.
PTI
