COCOMI co-ordinator Th Somorendro called for unity and peace. Maintaining that though strategies adopted by organizations are different, their goals are the same, he said, “Seven years of devastation and Anglo Manipur war defeat due to disunity are something we should learn about so that history does not repeat.”
TFM Report
A powerful explosion at All Manipur Students’ Union AMSU’s headquarters and arson attacks on offices United Committee Manipur (UCM) office at Lamphelpat in Imphal West district and Macha Leima school in Palace Compound in Imphal East on Friday night sent shock waves of fear across the valley in strife-torn Manipur on Saturday.
The blast that rocked AMSU headquarters situated on the campus of Dhanamanjuri (DM) University in Imphal West on Friday at around 9.30 pm left one student dead and another injured. The deceased was identified as Oinam Kenegy, 24, of Upokpi and the injured as Salam Michael, 24, of Keibul, sources said. Kenegy and Michael, both students of DM Sollege of Science, were rushed to Raj Medicity. However, Kenezy succumbed to his injuries during the treatment.
Meanwhile, students of DM university took out a rally protesting against the killing of the student and condemning the bomb attack on AMSU. They demanded the arrest of the culprits behind the attack and the killing within 48 hours.
Federation of Civil Society Organisations, (FOCS) Manipur also condemned the attack on AMSU office and the killing of a student. In a statement issued by Information & Public Relation secretary Nerish Mangang, FOCS called the attack a cowardly act and urged the public to teach a lesson to them, who are working in the interest of few people. It also urged the Manipur government to arrest and punish armed gang members, who were involved in terrorist acts of killing the student, as fast as possible.
In an arson incident at around midnight, some unidentified persons burned down UCM office at Lamphelpat in Imphal West district late on Friday night. Condemning the incident, the committee on Saturday demanded the immediate arrest of the miscreants responsible for this arson.
Addressing a press conference, the UCM sought a thorough investigation into the incident and urged the authorities to ensure that those accountable are brought to justice promptly.
The UCM said that the blaze has reduced several valuable documents to cinders. It also said such acts of arson and violence are detrimental to the peace and harmony of the region. It also lamented the Intelligence failure of the state government’s home department as it failed to prevent the incident which destroyed all the valuable documents and caused irreparable loss.
Meanwhile, president of the Macha Leima Wangkheimayum Amusana claimed that some armed miscreants stormed into Macha Leima office at around Friday midnight and set afire it after vandalising all materials inside office. The fire has destroyed all the documents related to the Micro Finance activities of the office, she added.
She claimed that the armed miscreants away five LPG cylinders, one desktop and utensils used for cooking. She also said that stationary items and school uniforms worth lakhs of rupees were reduced to ashes in the fire.
Stating that Macha Leima has been working for people for the past 55 years and does not have any enemies, she sought clarification from those who were involved in the arson.
Meanwhile, the Coordination Committee of Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) expressed sadness over Friday night’s incidents. In a press conference at the AIMS office in Kwakeithel. COCOMI co-ordinator Th Somorendro called for unity and peace. Maintaining that though strategies adopted by organizations are different, their goals are the same, he said, “Seven years of devastation and Anglo Manipur war defeat due to disunity are something we should learn about so that history does not repeat.”