Imphal, February 19: Seventeen social organisations of Manipur have come out strongly against the killing of innocent civilians in Assam by security personnel.

A joint meeting of UPF, Hericoun, NIPCO, TIPS, UPACO, TDUWDO, MSC, Meekhol, Tami Chingmi, Nupi Samaj, UMMWA, Macha Leima, AMSU, DESAM, MSF, THANIL and MAFYF was held at the head office of AMSU today wherein the killing of Ajit Mahanta and Dhaneswar Puma by the security forces in Assam was strongly condemned.

Dhaneshwar Puma of the Tiwa community and Ajit Mahanta of Kakopathar were allegedly picked up by the security personnel on February 2 and February 5 respectively and mercilessly tortured and killed in custody.

Besides, another civilian identified as Ananta Neog was also reportedly killed by the Army at Makum.

The meeting strongly felt that this barbarous and heinous crime of the security forces on the innocent citizens of Assam exposes the vicious nature of State terrorism and suppression of democracy in the North East and violation of inalienable rights of life and dignity of the people.

The meeting also strongly condemned the indiscriminate police firing on the public rally taken out against the killing of Ajit Mahanta and Dhaneshwar Puma on February 10 at Kakopathar and Makum Town resulting in the death of another fourteen civilians.

The meeting resolved that the Government of Assam should take the moral responsibility for the killing.

The social organisation of Manipur also expressed solidarity with the people of Assam and support their movements for restoration of the rights and dignity of the Assamese people and also share the grief of the bereaved families.

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