POLICE FOIL HUGE AT BAZAR; PROTEST GALORE ELSEWHERE
Source: Matamgi Yakairol
Imphal, July 09:
Rallies and sit-in-protest demonstrations continued unabated in the four valley districts of the state today, even after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has given a written assurance yesterday that the contentious ceasefire agreement between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) including the clause �without territorial limits� would be reviewed.
In the heart of the capital town itself, about 30,000 people belonging to various communities � Silks, Marwari, Jain, Bihari, Tribal, Muslims and Meitei took out a huge rally upholding the territorial integrity of the state.
The rally organized by the Imphal Bazar Community kick off from Dharmashala area at Thangal bazar at 8 am today.
The rallyist wore black flags and shouted anti-ceasefire slogans.
As the procession approached towards Raj Bhavan where they intended to submit a memorandum to the governor, police stopped them at Keishampat junction.
The rallyists did not move from there but continued shouting slogans while squatting on the road.
However, after negotiation with the magistrate, a few representatives were allowed to enter the Raj Bhavan and submit memorandum to the governor, Mr.Ved Marwah.
The memorandum asked the state authorities as well as the centre not to do anything which might lead to misunderstanding among different sections of the people living in the state.
As a result of the protest rally, all the shops and business establishments of Khwairamband bazar today downed shutters.
Reports from Kakching say that a mass peaceful rally was taken out there by the students protesting against the extension of ceasefire to Manipur and demanding its withdrawal.
The rally was organized by the Joint Students� Platform, Kakching in collaboration with students of colleges, schools and higher secondary schools in the area.
The rally commenced from the campus of Kakching Yumbi Macha High School and passed through all the important places in Kakching before it converged at Kakching bazar where the rallyists offer red floral tributes to the statue of Neta Irabot.
An anti ceasefire rally was also reportedly taken out from Lamlai to Khabeisoi today.
Around 3000 people belonging to different communities took part in the rally.
On the other hand, peaceful sit-in-protest demonstration, burning of effigies, and road blockade continued at different places of greater Imphal area.
Wahengbam Leikai, the local people today burnt the effigies of Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and Muivah condemning the extension of centre-NSCN (IM) ceasefire to Manipur.
In Keishamthong Moirangingthou Leirak hundreds of women took part in sit-in-protest demonstration today.
A mass sit-in-protest dharna was staged at Thoudam Emoinu Bazar from 9 am to 3pm.Afterward a protest rally was carried out through Leishangthem bazar.
Irong Cheshaba bazar and Mayang Imphal bazar, the rallyists also carried the effigies of PM, Home Minister and Muivah and later set them on fire.