IMPHAL: The agitating Gurkhas and the state government of Manipur have reached an agreement this evening and following this development the bandh on NH-2 will be lifted from Sunday.
This information was revealed by deputy chief minister Gaikhangam while talking to reporters tonight.
He said the joint action committee (JAC) and the state government representatives including the chief minister, himself (deputy chief minister), Sekmai MLA Kh Deven, and Kangpokpi MLA Nemcha Kipgen, met this evening at 6 pm and resolved the impasse.
According to the agreement, a suitable government job will be given to one of the next of kin of the deceased driver who was killed in the police firing yesterday at Kanglatongbi. The injured will also avail government assistances. The officer-in-charge of Sekmai Police Station Deepchandra has been placed under suspension and an inquiry will be conducted into the firing incident. However, the state government had given the choice to the JAC on the channel of investigation i.e., to choose from the two – a high level departmental inquiry or a magisterial inquiry. The state government said it will not be proper to conduct the judicial inquiry, as demanded by the JAC, into the incident. The JAC had agreed to the government offer. The state government has also agreed to post security personnel in Gurkha dominated areas as demanded by the JAC.
Meanwhile, the deputy chief minister who is also the home minister of Manipur strongly condemned the rape case as well as the police firing incident that had resulted in the killing of a man last evening.
One protestor was killed in the police firing and several others injured late last night at Kanglatongbi area which is about 20 km north of Imphal situated along the National Highway 2.
The Manipur police resorted to firing as the mob became violent imposing lightning bandh along the NH-2 in protest against the rape of a 13-year old Gorkha girl by a 65-year old man from Senapati district.
The deceased has been identified as one Tilak Paudyal, 30 years, s/o one Prem Singh of Tispari Kanglatongbi. A bullet had hit his stomach. He was said to be a mini truck driver.
One Bhimsuter Karki, 45 years, s/o Sher Bahadur of Bijoynagar Kanglatongbi got injured. He was hit by a police bullet in his chest and later operated at Raj Poly Clinic, Imphal, but his condition is said to be critical while the other injured person has been identified as one Hemant Thapa, 30 years, also from Kanglatongbi. He was hit by a bullet in his leg but he is said to be out of danger.
