Imphal: Goods made in the state of Karnataka were seized by students and burnt in the presence of media persons at a place in Imphal on Friday, as part of the agitation against the neglect of the Congress government in Manipur to give pressure to concerned authorities regarding the suspicious death Loitam Richard.
The six students’ organizations AMSU, DESAM, MSF, KSA, SUK and SWAK are protesting the negligence of the state government to give pressure to the Karnataka government and the Indian government to allow the CBI to investigate into the murder of Richard Loitam.
Around 10 students are reported to have been arrested by Imphal city police while the students were conducting a drive in the two main market areas to seize goods made in Karnataka.
The students were successful in their mission as most of them return safely after the drive, though some of them were arrested by the police, said AMSU president Suresh.
He said that the six students’ organizations have been agitating in democratic ways from May 4 to demand proper investigation and justice regarding the suspicious deaths of two students from Manipur, Richard and Laaba, but the state government has been deaf to the demand of the students to take a pro-active role on behalf of the people of Manipur to demand the concerned governments to investigate the deaths of the two students who had died under suspicious circumstance, and even to hand over the case to the CBI if necessary.
But till now no appropriate action has been forthcoming from the side of the government, which has led the students to take the drastic step of seizing and burning of goods made in the states where the students had been killed, said the AMSU president, and added that such drives will continue till proper response from the side of the state government is visible.
Meanwhile, Manipuris based at Karnataka have expressed reservations about the decision of the students’ organizations to ban goods made in Karnataka in Manipur and entry of educational counselors from Karnataka in the state.
Some have described the decision as an immature decision while others have urged the students’ organizations not to mix up state affairs with an isolated case of murder. (NNN)
