Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 11:
Hmar Students� Association (HSA), Imphal Joint Headquarters has strongly condemned �senseless and merciless killing� of two innocent students by unidentified armed persons on the night of May 7 at Churachandpur town.
In a statement, Association general secretary Samuel L Hmar the victims identified as Lalhlungsang Khawbung s/o Lalrangbawl of Hmar Veng and Solomon Zothangsiem s/o Thangleinsel, also of Hmar Veng were accosted by the unidentified killers while they were coming back after attending an audio cassette releasing function on that fateful day.
The killing took place within the jurisdiction of the posts of IRB and CRPF which are just 200 metres apart.
This only shows that there is some loopholes in the security arrangement in the area, Samuel alleged, while lamenting that common people have no protection from the armed gangs in Churachandpur.
Taking note of the fact that no one has come forward to claim the responsibility for the killing, Samuel said that the perpetrators of the crime should come out openly informing the people why the two innocent students were thus killed.
The Hmar students� body also demanded the State Government to pay an ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh each to the bereaved families.
To mourn the death of the two innocent students, the students body said that it would fly its flag half-past and pray for peaceful repose of the departed souls in their heavenly abode.
Congress decries: The Sadar Hills District Congress Committee has denounced the statement made by All Manipur Kuki Chiefs� Federation opposing election of Gaikhangam as MPCC president.
The statement issued by the so-called Federation is the handy work of some vested-interest persons to create division within the Congress party on communal line, Committee president Thangkam Lupheng said in a statement made available to the press today.
Lupheng asserted that the election of PCC president is strictly done on the basis of the candidate�s merit, seniority, integrity, etc.
Taking all these factors into consideration, Gaikhangam has been proposed by some Congress legislators, even though a final decision on the matter is yet to be taken, the statement said.