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General strike hits life in Manipur

Iboyaima Laithangbam

IMPHAL: Normal life was affected in Manipur on Tuesday as the 48-hour general strike, called by some civic organisations to protest against the killing of a youth in a police ‘fake’ encounter here on July 23, entered the second day.

All offices, educational institutions and commercial establishments were closed.

As effigies of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and policemen commandos were burnt at several places, the police fired teargas shells and rubber bullets to disperse the people.

Two persons were injured during the crackdown. Four persons were arrested.

The people are demanding action against the commandos who allegedly killed Chungkham Sanjit.

Police attacked

Almost all roads were blocked with burning tyres, nails, broken bottles, and uprooted trees. Several boys were seen attacking the police commandos with slingshots.

Some commandos retaliated by hitting the youths by using their own slingshots. Angry women confronted the police at several places.

There is a spontaneous response from the people to the demand for punishing the commandos allegedly involved in the ‘fake encounter’ killing.

Mr. Ibobi Singh, who is also in-charge of Home department, has been staying in Manipur House in New Delhi from the day people had launched various forms of agitations.

No audience

On Tuesday, representatives of the Manipur Students’ Association, Delhi, had tried to meet the Chief Minister.

However, they could not get an appointment. The disappointed students left after leaving a memorandum.

The Apunba Lup, the apex body of the civil organisations in Manipur, demanded that the commandos should be punished before the end of the strike.

Three women, who came to meet Governor Gurubachand Jagat on Tuesday, were arrested near the Raj Bhavan after a brief argument with the police.

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