Fake Encounter Case: Strike Affects Life in Manipur

Normal life was out of gear in Manipur on Monday with a 48-hour general strike called by a social organisation to protest the killing of a youth in an alleged fake encounter turning a success.

Due to the strike called by Apunb Lup that started midnight last, markets, shops and other business establishments remained closed in the state.

Besides, interstates transport services were badly affected. According to officials, presence in government offices was nil.

Reports from the districts said that the strike also affected several parts of both hill and valley districts.

It should be noted that the youth identified as Ch Sanjit (27), according to sources, was a militant and killed in an encounter with police commandos on July 23 at Imphal market complex, while the social organization claimed that he was innocent and killed in a fake encounter.

The state witnessed mass agitation after pictures of the encounter were published in a Delhi-based news magazine.

Condemning the alleged fake encounter, an apex body of social organisations United Committee Manipur and several other outfits in separate statements have demanded resignation of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh for what they termed as “indulging in state terrorism”.

They have also threatened to launch a series of agitations if “fake encounters” were not stopped immediately in Manipur.