Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 19 2009:
The 36-hour general strike of the Apunba Lup has concluded by and large peacefully except some isolated incidents of police dispersing bandh supporters from blocking roads at various places this evening at 5 pm.
The general strike which was commenced from yesterday 5 am has severely affected to the normal chores today on the second day too even though curfew imposed by the district authorities of Imphal west and eat relaxed for 12 hour from 5 am till 5 am today.
Authorities are also relaxing the probation of people moving out from their respective residences (curfew) under section (2) of CrPC 144 to same period of time, from 5 am to 5 pm tomorrow.
Separate orders regarding the relaxation have been issued by the district magistrates of Imphal east and west.
Blocking of roads by the bandh supporters despite police efforts to open the roads for normal traffics and burning of effigies of chief minister, O Ibobi, his wife MLA Landhoni, DGP, Y Joykumar and police commandos were continued at various places during the general strike.
Extending support to the general strike, womenfolk of the Lamboikhongnangkhong, Lourembam Leikai turned out on the streets along the Imphal-Kangchup road blocked the road by stretching woods, burning tyres and debris on the roads.
They also burnt effigies of the chief minister, his wife, DGP and police commandos.
The also shouted various slogans demanding resignation of chief minister, befitting punishments to the police commando personnel involved in the fake encounter.
On the NH-39 also people took to the streets at Khonghampat and nearby areas along the highway and blocked the road from traffic movement.
They also smashed windshields of vehicles for allegedly violating the bandh.
A team of Sekmai police dispersing the protestors also picked up two youths identified as Pechimayum Ishingjao (17) son of Ibotombi and Thoudam Ajoy (17) son of Kesho of Khonghampat.
They were picked up together from the house of the Ishingjao, locals said.
Locals also alleged that after picked up them, they were forced to lay on the ground on the road and beaten up before taking away.
Effigies were burnt after sit-in protest are staged at various places at Lamlai, Tangkham, Chingkhu, Sambrei in Imphal east, Kakwa Naoremthong Leikai, Wahengbam Leikai, Pallel in Thoubal district, Maklang Salam Keithel Haorang Khunou etc.
In the police dispersion act by firing tear gas shells and mob bombs, three women sustained injuries at hips and thigh.
The injured women were identified as Leitanthem Sabitri (47), kongrailakpam Premita (25) and A Sushila (35).They sustained injuries when police hurled a bomb inside a house where they are staying after police dispersed a sit in protest at Salam Mamang Leikai.
Womenfolk expressed strong condemnation to the excessive meted out to the women by the police.