Student bodies flay assault on MSF VP
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 06 2011:
Six student bodies, namely All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Students' Welfare Association of Kangleipak (SWAK), Students' Union of Kangleipak (SUK) and Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), have come out strongly against the police action against Vice President of MSF Longjam Umakanta during a protest rally taken out in solidarity with Irom Chanu Sharmila yesterday.
Addressing a press conference at the head office of MSF here today, General Secretary of DESAM M Angamba informed that students were demonstrating in front of Kangla yesterday when a police team led by Additional SP of Imphal West Herojit descended and drove them away stating the area is a silent zone.
Agreeing with the police, the student protestors were coming together towards DM College campus when an elderly person who came riding a Luna was heard to have said, "Oisu Oiroidabada, Lambi Thatkanu, Nakhoina Kari Aphaba Thoukhradana".
It led to an argument with some of the student protesters.
Umakanta was only trying to pacify the two parties when ASP Herojit rushed in and started beating up Umakanta without asking anything.
Encouraged by the action of ASP Herojit, other police personnel also joined in the assault, Angamba recounted, while decrying the action of the police as a direct affront to the student community as a whole.
President of AMSU Th Suresh demanded that the government to initiate befitting action against the involved police personnel so as to ensure such unfortunate incident is not repeated.
In this regard, a memorandum has been submitted to the DGP, he informed.
President of KSA Y Pradipkumar, President of MSF Ng Milan, President of SUK L Jayantakumar Khuman and President of SWAK Y Anil were also present during the press conference.