Judicial probe demanded into Manipur killings

Judicial probe demanded into Manipur killings
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

IMPHAL, NOV 5: Several organisations and political parties today demanded a judicial probe into Thursday's killings of ten persons in Manipur after the explosion of a underground-planted bomb at Malom here.

While an Assam Rifles press release said the victims were killed in an exchange of fire with the armed ultras, CPI-M State committee Secretary, Ksh Shanta demanded a judicial probe into the incident and punishment of the culprits.

Shanta in a statement also called for immediate withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Power Act, now in force, alleging security personnel were committing `excesses' under the act in the name of dealing with insurgents.

The Women's United Development Organisation (WUDO), MeeteiNational Front (a social organisation), Kangleipak Lamjing Apunba Meira Lup (a women's organisation of Manipur), Kuki INPI (an apex body of all kuki organisations) and several others demanded a judicial probe into the "killing of ten civilians" and condemned the "security excesses."

The General Secretary of the ruling Manipur StateCongress Party (MSCP Chandel unit), B D Romeo Anal in a statement appealed to both the underground activists and security forces not to open fire at crowded places to avoid civilian casualty.

The Assam Rifles had earlier said "two to three suspectedunderground cadres were shot dead in retaliatory exchange of fire" while approximately seven or eight persons were shot dead in "indiscriminate" firing by underground cadres.

The Women's United Development Organisation Presidentngjam Phajabi Devi said in a statement that Assam Rifles and other security forces were deployed to protect people but after Thursday's incident, they had "further alienated and isolated the people."

W Bormani Devi, President of Maira Paibi group ofHeingang, a local women's group, said Chief Minister W. Nipamacha Singh had failed in all respects including protection of common people in the state and demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.

Condemning the incident the Union of Social Upliftment,alleged people were reeling under various "forms of atrocities perpetrated by security forces".

They also demanded a judicial inquiry into Thursday'sincident.

The Manipur government yesterday ordered a magisterialinquiry to ascertain the facts and circumstances which led to the explosion and the subsequent firing between Assam Rifles personnel and armed ultras at Malom-Tulihal area here.

Official sources had yesterday said "if the report wasnot adequate, the government might order further probe including judicial inquiry".