Newmai News Network Imphal | October 8 Churachandpur town witnessed a total shutdown today from 1 pm till 6 pm in protest against burning down of “Salpha Pumbuk” (a shed) where dummy coffins of the nine “tribal martyrs” were kept. The shed where the dummy coffins where stored was constructed by the Joint Action Committee against Anti-Tribal Bills (JAC-AATB) at Hiangtam Lamka. The arson was reportedly committed by miscreants around 3 am. Registering a strong protest, the Joint Action Committee enforced a 5-hour total shutdown in the town from 1 pm to 6 pm. Normal life was hit due to the strike call. The committee in a statement condemned the act in the strongest terms. It termed the incident an insult to the sacrifices made by the tribal martyrs. Bodies of the “martyrs” are yet to be buried. They are being kept at Churachandpur District Hospital since their killings during violence last year. The dummy coffins at Salpha Pumbuk were presented by the JAC awaiting a proper burial of the nine bodies. It has demanded that the state government withdraw all three “anti-tribal bills” passed by the state legislative assembly in August, 2015, aimed at protecting indigenous people of the state.
