Joykishan detained for some hours, many injured in scuffle
Thangmeiband says a big no to market shed at Thangal bazar
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 23 2016 : Police today detained Thangmeiband AC MLA Khumukcham Joykishan who led a mass protest rally for around five hours.

As announced earlier, a large number of Thangmeiband locals and TAKDO volunteers led by Kh Joykishan took out the rally in protest against the construction of temporary market sheds at Thangal bazar at around 9.45 am.

Defying CrPC 144 clamped at Khoyathong, Khwai bazar and Nagamapal areas, the protesters tried to march towards Nagamapal side from Khoyathong.

They first broke the police barricade erected at Khoyathong crossing.

Even as the rallyists led by Kh Joykishan tried to move forward, Imphal West Additional SP (Operations) Th Vikramjit requested the MLA and protesters to return stating that CrPC 144 had already been imposed.

Police blocking the path of the people of Thangmeiband and MLA Joykishan

Joykishan told the police officer that they were staging the rally against the State Government's decision to forcefully construct the temporary market shed at the busy Thangal bazar area.

The MLA said that police may arrest them for defying the prohibition, however they would never retreat.

Later, the MLA and the protesters managed to overcome police barricades erected at different areas on Nagamapal road and marched up to RIMS crossing.

Police blocked the protesters at RIMS crossing and pulled up Kh Joykishan from there as per the order of the Duty Magistrate.

Although some women protesters tried to prevent the police from detaining the MLA, a police team took him away in a police vehicle.

After Joykishan was taken away, police erected a strong barricade at RIMS crossing to prevent the protesters from marching further.

Later, a large number of protesters staged a sit-in-protest in the middle of the road near the police barricade shouting slogans like 'we condemn construction of market shed in the middle of the road', 'release MLA Kh Joykishan' and 'resign Chief Minister O Ibobi'.

On the other hand, police made announcements using loud speakers that the protesters must return as CrPC 144 was in force.

After giving 100 minutes' time to the protesters to leave the area, police fired water canon, teargas shells and mock bombs to disperse the agitators.

The protestors retaliated the police action by pelting stones and firing slingshot projectiles.

In the police-protesters scuffle that lasted for around 20 minutes, six protesters and a woman police officer were injured.

The injured agitators have been identified as Gurumayum Dombi (48) of Thangmeiband Lourung Purel Leikai, Ningthoujam Bomi (45) of Nagamapal Kangabam Leikai, Hijam Ibeyaima (45) of Khoyathong, Yumnam Bijaya (40) of Khoyathong Polem Leikai, RK Thouranisabi (38) of Thangmeiband Yumnam Leikai and Gurumayum Memchoubi (47) of Thangmeiband Polem Leikai.

Later, police managed to push the agitators back up to Khoyathong crossing, where they staged a sit-in-protest demanding Joykishan's release and revocation of the Government's decision regarding construction of temporary market shed at Thangal bazar.

On the other hand, some angry protestors burnt down Chief Minister Okram Ibobi's effigy and tyres on the road at Khoyathong Polem Leikai and DM College gate.

Kh Joykishan was released from police custody at around 4 pm.

Later in the evening, the situation calmed down and no untoward incident was reported at the time of filing this report.

However, police teams were deployed at Khoyathong, Nagamapal and other areas.