Correspondent
IMPHAL, April 20
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he bandh on Imphal-Mao sector of the National Highway 2, the life line of Manipur has been called off following assurances by the state government.
The bandh was called off after a public meeting held at Government High School at Kanglatombi, 25 km north of Imphal, took a decision this afternoon.
The public meeting which was attended by Sekmai MLA Kh Devendra and Kangpokpi MLA Nemcha Kipgen, minutely discussed the assurances given by the government authority. Later they agreed to call off bandh around 2pm, reports reaching here said.
A functionary of the Joint Action Committee which was instrumental in enforcing the bandh said that hey will resume their agitation if the government fails to fulfill the demands within the stipulated time.The bandh on the highway was called in protest against the alleged rape of a 13-year-old Nepali girl by a 65-year- old neighbour S Mapuni and subsequent killing of a student activist Tilak Paudel (26) in a police firing. Two more activists – Hemant Thapa (21) and Bhim Bahadur (42) of Kanglatongbi were injured in the police action.
On Saturday, Manipur’s Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who also holds home portfolio has assures to conduct a high level inquiry into the incident besides giving a job to victim(Tilak)’s family, necessary financial help to the injured persons and the rape victim.
Meanwhile the Officer in Charge Geetchandra of Sekmai police station who was involved in Friday’s firing incident at Kanglatongbi has been put under suspension while four agitators who were arrested during the police action have been released without any condition.
At the same time accused rapist S Mapuni was arrested and remanded in the judicial custody for 7 days after producing before the court.
