Imphal: A pregnant woman and a young man were killed in Manipur’s capital Imphal recently in what the state police termed an encounter.
However, photographs published by news magazine Tehelka show that the man, Chungkham Sanjit, was unarmed when the police allegedly killed him.
Soon after the issue hit stands, violent protests rocked the insurgency-hit state and citizens protested violently against what they called a fake encounter.
Hundreds of protestors took to streets demanding stringent action against the police commandoes.
Manipur was put under curfew and capital Imphal shut down for the third consecutive day on Wednesday. Three women attempted to strip in protest in front of the Raj Bhavan and life came to a standstill across the state.
A local group called Apunba Lup is spearheading the campaign for justice for Sanjit.
They are demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Ibobi Singh, an explanation for the alleged murders, and the repeal of the stringent Armed Force Special Powers Act.
"After the Tehelka expose now every citizen of Manipur comes to realize that people were killed in encounters in the past also, even though they were nowhere in the scene and we want justice for it,” said Satyajit Singh, a protestor.
More than 20,000 people have been killed in decades of insurgency in Manipur. Nine years ago, the now iconic Irom Sharmila went on a fast demanding the repeal of AFSPA.
Her battle is still on and the Tehelka photographs reaffirm fears that other shootings in Manipur could also be stage-managed.
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