Mnp roads blocked to protest deaths with communal slant

IANS
IMPHAL, APRIL 30

Separate incidents in Manipur, each with communal overtones, in which four people lost their lives have led to protests and blocking of national and state highways in the last few days, police said.
People in Yairipok in Thoubal district have been blocking roads in protest against the death of a pedestrian after he was hit by an auto-rickshaw two weeks ago. The agitationists are demanding the arrest of the auto-rickshaw driver who is absconding.
The blockade was let up only after police said it found some clues that might lead to the arrest of the driver.
However, there is still a ban on auto-rickshaws in the Yairipok area.
In Ukhrul district, the death of a young man from Imphal is being linked to his affair with a girl of a different community.
Reportedly in love with a Tangkhul Naga girl, he had gone to meet her in Ukhrul district. His decomposed body was exhumed last week. There were clear signs on his body to indicate that he was bludgeoned to death.
The protestors called for a 24-hour shutdown and are refusing to claim the body.
Another incident in Ukhrul, in which truck driver Tangkhul Naga was beaten to death after abduction, has led to more protests and blocking of roads. Tangkhul Naga Long, an NGO, suspects the death to have been caused by some people from another community. In Lilong in Thoubal district, one boy from Imphal was found hanging.
Suspecting foul play, local people have been blocking the Trans Asian highway thereby affecting legalised border trade along Moreh.
All these protests have disrupted normal life and caused losses to the economy.
Several vehicles have been damaged and at least two persons were hospitalised after they were beaten up for trying to crash through a blockade.
Admitting failure to nab the suspects, police sources said that they are doing their best to solve the cases.