Imphal, May 05 2009: The 48-hour bandh in Sadar Hills called by Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) in protest against the incident firing which killed a student identified as Lalsanglen Mangte at Saikul on the night of May 3 has been suspended with immediate effect till May 7 .

The decision to suspend the bandh was taken after a joint meeting between Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and representatives of Kuki Inpi, Kuki Women Union, KSO and the JAC formed in connection with the incident today.

According to information received by the press, during the joint meeting the Chief Minister gave his assurance of looking into the demands of the JAC.

The demands of the JAC which was adopted during the public meeting held at Saikul Bazar yesterday included resolution of the matter by the Government in accordance to the Kuki customary laws, termination of the IRB personnel involved in the incident, removal of the IRB post attached with the Saikul Police Station, payment compensation for the damages caused and ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakhs to the family member of student killed in the firing.

Talking to The Sangai Express in connection with the joint meeting, president of KSO Saikul Block Thangjalun Mate informed that the Chief Minister has given his assurance of looking into these demands.

Accordingly, the bandh has been suspended till 6 pm of May 7 .

On May 7, another round of meeting would be held and in case no conclusion could be arrived at during the said meeting, we may be compelled to resume the suspended agitation, Mate warned, adding that the body of Lalsanglen would not be claimed until the matter has ben resolved satisfactorily.

It may be recalled here Lalsanglen was killed in a firing incident which broke out at Saikul Bazar area on the night of May 3.Infuriated over the killing, the local people stormed the Saikul Police Station on the same night.

The villagers have alleged that Lalsanglen, a student of class XI in Model English Higher Secondary School at Saikul was shot dead by personnel of 4 IRB after being picked up.

But the police claimed that the incident occurred after some unidentified armed youths tried to open fire at the IRB personnel.

A Rifleman of the 4th IRB attached with the Saikul Police Station identified as Laishram Sanjoy was also reportedly sustained bullet injuries in the incident while his friend, an MPR personnel identified as S Romesh was beaten up by the armed persons.

Earlier during the day, on account of the bandh called, normal life in Sadar Hills area remained paralysed with Saikul Bazar shutting down and passenger service buses staying off the roads.

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