IMPHAL, August 18: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) constituted against declaration of former JCILPS Convenor Khomdram Ratan as a wanted man, has called 48-hour state wide general strike from Thursday midnight to Saturday midnight in protest against the arrest of former convenor of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) Khomdram Ratan.
The Co-convenor of JAC Kshetrimayum Thoiba made an announcement in this regard during a hurriedly called press conference at Singjamei bridge junction on Thursday.
Seeking support from general public for the general strike, Thoiba informed that essential services including media, water supplies, electricity, medical, social and traditional ceremonies will be exempted from the purview of the general strike.
Meanwhile, Kh Ratan, former Convenor of JCILPS who was declared a wanted man with a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh to anyone who can provide information leading to his arrest on charges of “indulging in prejudicial activities against the state”, has been produced before the court on Thursday and remanded in the judicial custody till August 26.
Earlier on Wednesday around 11am in the morning, Ratan came out openly and took part in the ongoing relay hunger strike demanding introduction of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Manipur at Keishampat in Imphal. However, a team of Manipur police commandoes arrested him after a gap of around 12 hours.
In June this year, State police had announced a Rs 5 lakh reward to anyone providing information leading to arrest of Ratan, for being a member of banned outfit United National Liberation Front and for indulging in prejudicial activities against the State, promoting social unrest and enmity among different groups of people living in Manipur. But Ratan had been rejecting the charges and had even lodged a petition in the high court of Manipur challenging the orders. Responding to the petition, a division bench of high court of Manipur on Tuesday reserved the judgment on the case.
Ratan speaking to this reporter prior to his arrest said he will continue the movement (for implementation of ILP in the state) with the public for the protection of the public in future as he started it in association with the public.
