Assassination of Akaba paralyses State
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 02: The 24 hour general strike called by Meetei Eyek Erol Loinasillon Apunba Lup (MEELAL) and supported by other organisations to protest the killing of MEELAL's former president and advisor Chingsubam Akaba severely affected normal activities today.

The year's first agitation call was enforced stringently as suspected strike supporters asked traders in Imphal areas to shut down their shops while public carriers ceased service and the streets of Imphal were deserted.

The strike will end at 5 am tomorrow.

Chingsubam, a former president of Meetei National Front (MNF), was shot dead by unknown armed men near his Soibam Leikai Mary Leirak residence in Imphal east minutes after the onset of the New Year.

After a witnessing a musical concert at BOAT, Palace Compound on December 31 night, Akaba was reportedly dropped at his Soibam Leikai residence by his driver.

A deserted road during the general strike called to protest the killing of Akaba and tributes being paid to the mortal remains

At around 12.10 am, he went out to see off his driver upto the gate when two unidentified armed men shot him twice, according to family sources.

The assailants then fled from the scene, the bereaved family members said adding that he was immediately rushed to Shija Hospital where he was declared dead by the doctors.

He received no threat or intimidations from any organisations earlier, according to family members.

Porompat Police have registered an FIR case in connection with the incident and investigation is on to nab the killers.

An empty cartridge has been recovered from the spot of the crime, according to police.

The post-mortem examination was conducted at the mortuary of RIMS.

Shops in the normally busy Khwairamband bazaar remained closed owing to the bandh called by Meelal, a Meetei script body of which Chingsubam was a former president and advisor. Even though inter state/district passenger services were suspended owing to the agitation call, flight services were, however, not affected.

Daily chores in other districts, particularly in the valley areas were also affected.

As passenger carriers to and from the hill districts were suspended some district headquarters wore a deserted look inspite of shops and other business establishment being open.

Unaware of the general strike some inter-State buses arrived at sekmai this morning from where the vehicles were later escorted by police till Imphal.

Stray strike related incidents were reported from oinam Sawombung, Koirengei, Tera, Nambol, keinou, Ningthoukhong, JN Hospital Road and Hatta areas where tyres were burnt and suspected strike supporters damaged some two-wheelers.

Police teams were deployed at strategic locations to avert major skirmishes.

It was under the leadership of Akaba that Meelal launched a protracted stir that virtually prompted the SPF government to introduce Meetei Mayek text books in the school syllabus in Class 1 and II from the 2006 academic session.

While police are yet to cobble up evidence on the killing, leaders of Manipur People's Party did not rule out political instigation behind the incident as Akaba had played a pivotal role in amalgamating regional political parties to come under the flagship of the MPP ahead of the 9th state assembly polls slated for February.

Many MPP leaders condemning the killing, termed it as barbaric and senseless and a threat to regionalism.

Other political parties' leaders also strongly condemned the assassination.

Leaders of the oldest regional party in the State, MPP, suspected political hands behind the assassination.

'It was through his skilful negotiation that MPP has now become a strong regional force by way of merging various regional political parties,' said O Joy. MEELAL president Ngasepam Yumjao termed the act of killing as barbaric and senseless.

Yumjao urged the killers to explain the reasons for the killing within five days and warned of launching various form of intense agitation in case the demand is not met within the deadline.

Akaba was the man who led the move to revive the original script, culture and tradition of the indigenous people of the State and he had no enemy as he always made friends with all sections of the society, Yumjao said, adding that under his dynamic work MPP has now become the strongest regional political force in Manipur.

Yumjao also speculated of a political hand behind the killing.

Tributes were paid to the mortal remains today.