Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 21 2009:
Joining the condemnation chorus against the brutal killing of Kasom Khullen SDO and two other sub-ordinate staff, the Democratic Students' Alliance of manipur (DESAM) has categorically stated that efficiency of the Government has led to the loss of three more precious lives.
In a statement issued today, DESAM called upon the people to sustain the protest movement till the culprits have been booked and punished while demanding that imposition of curfew be lifted as prolonging restriction of movement would have negative impact upon the student community who are preparing for class X, XI and XII final examinations which are scheduled to commence from February 27 .
Urging the student community to wear black badge from February 23 onward to protest the macabre killing of the trio, DESAM accused the Government of adopting partisan policy and approach to the incident inspite of evidences of involvement of the NSCN-IM in the murder.
While people settled in the valley districts are made to suffer at the hands of the police force and Assam Rifles the Naga rebel group had been on the rampage in the hill districts despite the fact the ceasefire agreement reached between the NSCNIM and Government of India do not extend to manipur, DESAM pointed out.
Asking the Government to initiate concrete action against the NSCN-IM, DESAM citing the recent stand-off between the rebel group and the Assam Rifles at Shirui of Ukhrul district questioned how could the rebel group establish camps within the State of Manipur when the O Ibobi Singh-led Government had been repeatedly denying existence of any such designated camps.
Such leniency on the part of both the Centre and the State Government had emboldened the NSCN-IM to sustain its destructive agenda consequently leading the heinous killing of the three days after they were abducted from an Ukhrul district location in broad daylight, DESAM reminded.
It also expressed doubt of the enquiry panel formed to investigate the triple murder of delivering the desired result and living upto the expectation of the general masses with the reference to similar committees set up on the Lungnila Elizabeth case and others which DESAM alleged is a cover-up exercise by the State Government to keep under wrap inefficiencies on every aspect of governance.
With murderers of Lungnila Elizabeth still at large it is unlikely the culprits involved in the recent killing would be brought to justice, DESAM opined and recounting contributions made by the late MCS officer towards ushering quality education in the State during his association as a senior advisor of the student body also paid tribute to souls of the deceased trio.