The Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) has called for a 24-hour Manipur bandh from Thursday midnight, demanding release of its members arrested for their alleged involvement in an arson attack on a catholic school in the state.
Manipur police had arrested ten activists of the students’ body in connection with the arson attack at St Joseph’s Higher Secondary School on April 25.
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On May 27, they were sent to judicial custody by a local court in Chandel.
KSO publicity secretary David L Gangte condemned continued detention of their members.
“Of the 10 executives, three were arrested by the police and seven surrendered themselves before the SP, Kakching district as they reposed their trust in the law and the investigating authority,” David said.
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“For 10 days, they underwent thorough interrogation and investigation in the police custody but no substantial evidence was found against them in the case of an act of arson,” he said.
David said vice president of the student organisation’s Gunpi block, Thangzatet Haokip, who suffered from an acute case of jaundice, was also sent to jail.
David said the Kuki Students’ Organisation was being made a “scapegoat in the arson attack” and being vilified.
“It is a fact that the miscreants, who had torched the school, apparently have taken advantage of the closure of the school and clandestinely burnt down the school knowing well that the KSO Gunpi Block executives were there to take the blame,” Imphal Free Press quoted David as saying.