ILPS marchers baton charged, held Students take to the street
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 12 2012: Some student leaders who were marching towards Manipur Assembly complex demanding enforcement of Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) were baton charged and arrested by police.

Demanding the Legislators of the State to pass a Bill for enforcement of ILPS in Manipur during the ongoing Assembly session, leaders of different student organisations marched towards the Assembly complex starting from Thangmeiband Muchi Khul direction at about 11 am today.

But they were blocked by a series of police barricades.

This resulted in a scuffle between the two sides which ended with police resorting to baton charging.

Moreover, 10 student leaders were also arrested.

Infuriated by the arrest of leaders of different student organisations, a large number of students marched to Lamphel police station courting arrest but they were driven back and dispersed by police.

Students confront police on their march to the Assembly

On the other hand, students of TG Hr Sec School, pressing for the same demand of implementing ILPS in Manipur, took out a mass rally.

They too were blocked by police in front of Kangla Gate and were forced to turn back from there.

Similar mass rallies all directed towards Assembly complex were blocked by police and forced to turn back to their respective schools.

Students of CC Hr Sec School and Johnstone Hr Sec School were also preparing for similar march to the Assembly complex but their attempts were thwarted by police who locked their entrance gates and confined the students within their school premises.

They were allowed to go back home only after the school hours.

Elsewhere, protest demonstrations were staged today too in different parts of the State endorsing the demand for enforcement of ILPS in the State.

Similar protest demonstrations were witnessed at Khundrakpam Mayai Leikai Lainingthou Pangalba compound, Yumnam Khunou Bazar, Sagolmang Bazar, Pukhao, Keibi High School, Sekta Mayai Leikai, Chingamakha, Ningombam Mayai Leikai, Mekola Bazar, Pourabi, Yairipok and Khongjom.

Meanwhile, given the heightened for implementation of ILPS in the State, most of which are directed at the ongoing Assembly session, all the roads leading the Assembly complex has been closed to the people excepting essential services and the media.