TAMENGLONG, APRIL 21 (NNN): The Zeliangrong Students’ Union Manipur (ZSUM) has served an ultimatum to the Manipur government to address the prevailing volatile situation in Jiribam area within 48 hours time starting from the midnight of April 21 lest it start agitating for 48 hours on National Highway 37 (Imphal-Silchar road) followed by other stringent agitations.
The volatile situation in Jiribam area has been triggered by the district boundary dispute, which was worsened after April 13 when a house was burnt down. Some students were also assaulted as fallout of the district boundary dispute. One more house was allegedly burnt down on the night of April 19. The impasse involved two communities.
The ZSUM said on the night of April 13, three school-going students were thrashed black and blue. An attempt to murder another five students was made after they were forced inside their rented room by a group of masked men. These students were locked from outside, petrol poured and the house set on fire, alleged the ZSUM.
According to the Zeliangrong students' body, "Sources revealed that one of the attackers has been identified as Ph. Noni, son of one Ph. Gopeshore of Boroikhal village in Jiribam, also presently serving as VDF personnel attached to Jiri Police Station."
It then said, some miscreants hailing from another community, burnt another house belonging to Dinbui Gangmei at Lamkhai Bazar, Jiribam on the midnight of April 19. "This incident happened under the very nose of the state government but stoic silence of the former proved that it is behind the screen that instigated the communal tension between the hill people and the valley people," accused ZSUM.
Attention of the Manipur state government has been drawn by the Zeliangrong frontal organizations through media, but the state government did not initiate any action to book the attackers involved in the incidents and till date no positive sign can be seen though the Joint Action Committee had registered FIR at the Jiri police station, the Zeliangrong student body also said.
The ZSUM then warned that it will not hesitate to demonstrate their grievances to uphold the rights of every student irrespective of caste or creed or to the community the person belongs.
