Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 25 2009:
Even as president of the Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur L Memchoubi has been arrested by police this morning, protest movements against the Khwairamband killing of July 23 continued at different places today.
As a part of the mass movement being spearheaded by the Apunba Lup, a large number of Meira Paibis staged protest demonstration at Thangmeiband Watham Leirak and burnt effigy of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi.
At Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai, effigy of MLA Landhoni was also burnt in addition to Ibobi's effigy at the end of a protest demonstration there.
Effigies of the Chief Minister and his legislator wife were also burnt at Singjamei Oinam Thingel.
A protest demonstration was also staged there.
The protesters shouted slogans demanding resignation of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and dismissal of the commandos involved in the Khwairamband killings.
On the other hand, Imphal West police pulled up president of the Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur, L Memchoubi and two other women activists from her Thangmeiband Polem Leikai residence at about 10 am today.
In the afternoon, a large number of women marched towards Imphal police station demanding release of the three women activists.
But they were halted by police just outside the police station.
Later, the protesters were allowed to meet the arrested the women together with the OC.
Even as Takhellambam Ibeyaima and Hamom Borkeinya, both belonging to Wangoo were released, police held back Memchoubi.
After releasing Ibeyaima and Borkeinya, police eventually drove back the protesters.
The women protesters shouted slogans decrying the arrest of Memchoubi in front of the Chief Minister's official residence before they were driven back till Keishampat.
Meanwhile, in protest of the July 23 Khwairamband Bazar incident in which two persons were killed and five others injured in police firing, womenfolk continued to demonstrate and set aflame the effigies of Chief Minister I Ibobi Singh and his wife MLA Landhoni.
At the ground of Singjamei Oinam Thingel Lairembi, Singjamei Oinam Leikai Thingel Apunba Meira Paibi Lup and Ekhoigee Club jointly organised a sit-in-protest demonstration.
Around 100 women participated in the protest demonstration.
The protestors decried the failure of Ibobi to resign from the post of Chief Minister on moral ground as well as Landhoni for not saying anything inspite of the fact that one pregnant woman had been killed in the police firing.
Afterwards, the protestors set aflame the effigies of Ibobi and Landhoni amidst shouting of slogans demanding resignation of the Chief Minister and punishment of the police commandos involved in the killing.
At Kwakeithel Nganappithong, womenfolk of the area staged a protest demonstration over the July 23 incident.
Placards inscribed with slogans like 'Stop fake encounter', 'Punish the guilty police commandos', Resign Chief Minister O Ibobi', etc were seen being used during the demonstration held under the aegis of Nganappithong Mapal Apunba Nupi Lup.
At the Panthoibi Sanglen of Thangmeiband, similar protest demonstration had also been staged by the womenfolk of the locality.