Notwithstanding the official denial of any involvement in the death of a 12 year-old Muslim boy, Mohammad Neiumuddin on July 18 the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed by the people of Sora village in Thoubal district, Manipur has declared a 48-hour general strike in Manipur from 6 pm on Sunday. The JAC said that the government has not taken up any action against the policemen who are charged with opening fire at a civilian vehicle on the fateful night causing the boy’s death and injuring 8 others.
Other forms of agitations will be launched till the policemen concerned are booked, said a JAC statement.
Meanwhile, Jhalajit Akoijam, Superintendent of Police, Thoubal district in a statement said that Ghanashyam Sharma, the Sub-divisional police officer, was not involved in the death of the boy and injuries to others. He said that police are making progress in the investigation into the murder of D.K. Moshilpha and some suspects have been arrested and more arrests are likely.
The SP said that on July 18 there were gun fights between the villagers of Sora and Moinu. Moshilpha was from Moinu village whereas the arrested suspects are from Sora. On receipt of information of the
gun fights, police commandos rushed there. Police saw that several villagers armed with licensed guns and other lethal weapons were returning from areas near Moinu village. They were opening fire.
Shots were heard from another village, Khangshim. Shots were fired at the police party damaging the vehicle and injuring some personnel. But Ghanashyam Sharma, the SDPO, arrived at Kakching Lamkhai, and was not present when people of the two villages exchanged fire, said the SP. When the police opened fire in the air the villagers fled. Later, the police found the grievously wounded boy at the roadside and he was rushed to the hospital. Under the circumstances, the charges leveled against the police by the JAC are untenable, he said.
