IMPHAL, April 19: The ongoing bandh called by the JAC formed against the killing of Babu was effective mainly along the Mayai Lambi road today where bandh protestors came out and blocked the road, thereby disturbing vehicular movement.
All shops in Shamurou area remained closed while local club members and meirapaibi groups of the Shamurou area along with representatives of various civil society organizations of the state staged sit in protests and a public meeting at Shamurou Keithel against the killing of driver Babu. It may be mentioned that Babu was killed in a firing incident by armed cadres of a hill based militant outfit at Charoi Pangdongba under Khongnom police out post in Senapati district on April 17.
During the sit in protest and public meeting, leaders of various civil society organization spoke at length on the difficulties faced by the drivers plying on the state highways from various underground militant groups.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the protest, H Temba chairman of the Joint Action Committee said that the JAC will continue the protest and not claim the dead body of Babu till the state government to arrest those involved in the killing.
He also appealed to the state government to take up a full fledged measure to provide security on the highways to protect and ensure safety of the drivers plying on both the state highways and to establish a highway protection force.
Meanwhile, following the public meeting at Samurou Bazaar resolutions were endorsed including registering protest against the killing of Babu and putting pressure on the government not to allow such incidents to be repeated, extending aid to the bereaved family, urging the Government to take responsibility and to clarify on it’s failure to protect the Highway, to continue the general strike by seeking the support of civil society organizations, transport associations, students organizations and not accepting the dead body until the demands are fulfilled.