The KukiStudents' Organization (KSO) has called for a 24-hours Manipur bandh fromThursday midnight demanding the release of its members arrested for theiralleged involvement in an arson attack on a catholic school in the state.
On April 25, Manipur police had arrested ten activities of the students' body in connection with the arson attack at St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School and was sent to judicial custody on May 27 by a local court in Chandel.
Condemningthe continued detention of the members, KSO publicity secretary David L. Gangtesaid that of the 10 executives, three were arrested by the police and sevensurrendered themselves to the SP of Kakching district as they reposed theirtrust in the law and the investigating authority.
David alsosaid that for 10 days they underwent thorough interrogation and investigationin the police custody but no substantial evidence was found against them in thecase of an act of arson.
He furtherstated that Vice-President of the student organization's Gunpi block .Thangzatet Haokip was also sent to jail although he was suffering fromjaundice, claimed David. He said that the KSO was being made a scapegoat in thearson attack and being vilified.
David alsoreiterated that it is a fact that the miscreants who had torched the schoolapparently have taken advantage of the closure of the school and clandestinely burntdown the school knowing well that the KSO Gunpi block executives were there totake the blame.
