Manipur Students’ Association Delhi (MASAD) vehemently condemned the killing of two civilian protestor by state police force at Ukhrul yesterday. In a press statement of the student body it has been stated that August 30, 2014, will be another day to be remembered in red ink in the history of the politics of dissent and violent suppression. It stated that Ukhrul have lost two of its dearest soul and many have been injured while raising up for a human cause.RamkashingVashi (s/o L. Christopher Vashi of Teinem Village, Ukhrul), and R. Mayopam (s/o L.R. Hangyui of Teinem Village, Ukhrul) were killed in the course of police action to suppress the mass demonstration in Ukhrul town yesterday that was organized under the aegis of the United Naga Council.The MASAD stated that the scheduled mass protest was well planned and the administration was formally or informally aware of it. The mass demonstration was politically motivated and it was carried out in the context of the pent up resentment against the imposition of the Criminal Procedure Code Section 144 and the subsequent deployment of commandoes and IRBs, since 13th July 2014, which have been done as a response to the killing of Mr. NgalangzarMalue, an Autonomous District Council member of Ukhrul District by unidentified gunmen on 12 of July 2014.If the government have been committed to the peace and democracy of people; between 13th July and 30th August, there have been considerable time for it to come up with some practical political initiatives towards peaceful understanding with the people of Ukhrul. It seems to us that there have been lack of initiatives towards a workable peace process. Unfortunately, the government have followed its usual practice of militarization and repression of the voice of dissent.Therefore, what was happened at Ukhrul, was the repetition of ‘State Terrorism’ that have been systematically carried out without restraint for the last many years in the Imphal Valley and many other areas, the statement said.The student body said it condemns the government for its failure to peacefully handle with the tense situation in Ukhrul. And further express suspicion about any hidden agenda of the Government to ignite social tension as a safety valve to divert away the attention of the people from certain genuine larger democratic issues that the government had failed to address to.MASAD further appeal the progressive civil societies in Manipur and beyond to collectively fight against State terrorism in any form under any pretext.
