Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 10:
In daring act of defying police action, five students of Meetei Mayek High School, Kongba today shouted slogans demanding withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act and punishment of guilty AR personnel involved in killing of Th Manorama at Raj Bhavan gate.
The five student protestors managed to sneak into the security ring set up around the Raj Bhavan gate at around 12.30 pm and started shouting slogans.
The alerted police personnel deployed in the area reacted swiftly and chased them out.
But the slogan shouting protestors once again attempted to demonstrate in front of the Raj Bhavan gate after coming from the side of Jail Road, Keishampat.
Police used force and lathi-charged them.
One of the protestors was arrested by the police.
Villagers of eleven villages located in a round Keibi area took out a mass rally in Keibi area this evening from 7.55 to 9 demanding for immediate revocation of AFSPA.
The rally which was participated by about 20,000 people was organized by Awanglam Chingtam Unit.
Effigies of CM O Ibobi and PM Manmohan Singh were also burnt during the rally.
Expressing solidarity to the ongoing public's agitation against the killing of Manorama and removal of AFSPA, Manipur University Teacher's Assn, Officer Assn, Staff Assn and students jointly organized a sit in protest at the University campus today.
The sit in protest which was participated by about 500 persons including the Vice Chancellor of the University began from 3 pm and continued till 5 pm.
Banners reading "Remove AFSPA from the State", "Punish Manorama's killers" and "Stop army atrocities" were also put during the course of the protest.
Students and staff of Maipakpi Memorial Newage Public School, Langthabal Thong Ahanbi today staged a sit-in-protest demonstration in from of the school demanding lifting of AFSPA and punishment of killers of Manorama and Jamkholet.
On the other hand, shopkeepers and traders of Poana Bazar, Imphal have decided to hold a sit-in-protest demonstration tomorrow in support of the public demand for removal of AFSPA from Manipur and punishment of AR personnel involved in brutal killing of Manorama and Jamkholet Khongsai.
Womenfolk selling vegetables and other wares in Khwairamband Bazar have also announced their decision of launching civil disobedience movement on August 12 to exert pressure on the Governments both at the Centre and the State for conceding to the demand of the people.
In continuance of its relay hunger strike in support of public demand for lifting of AFSPA from Manipur and punishment of guilty Assam Rifles personnel involved in the killing of Manorama and Pastor Jamkholet Khongsai, Panchayat cell leaders and members of Manipur People�s Party took part in the agitation being held in front of the party office here today.
The party is launching the stir since August 2.Executive committee of CPI Manipur State Council has urged the Govt to lift the said Act from the capital city of Imphal area to begin the process of meeting the demand of the people.
The Committee also served an ultimatum to the Govt to make known its stand to the people in this regard within four days.
Imphal East District Council, Bishnupur District Council, Thoubal Local Council and Moirang Local Council of CPI, while endorsing the public demand for lifting the repressive Act have also exerted pressure on the Chief Minister to implement the assurance given to the people for taking a definite decision on lifting AFSPA from Manipur within August 15.Expressing their solidarity to the ongoing public movement, all the shops in Kwakeithel Bazar area downed their shutters from 4 am to 8 pm today.
Condemning arrest of DESAM, Bishnupur District Council gen secy W Polly, AMSU president in-charge W Binoy, gen secy in-charge T Chingkheingamba and gen editor of AMSU head office N Bhumeshwor by the police on alleged charge of abetting public unrest, MSF, AMSU and DESAM in a joint statement said it would not able to suppress the movement of the people and would rather fan the already charged emotion of the people.