IPSA demands unconditional release of its secretary
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 09 2021:
International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA) has demanded immediate and unconditional release of its assistant information & publicity secretary Okram Amarjit alias Thoi, who has been arrested by the state police on the charge of posting on the social media an incident related to Mount Koubru.
In a release, IPSA information & public relations secretary T K Meetei stated that the organisation sees the government's failure to release its office bearer who was just reporting about anti-social activities going on at Mt Koubru, even after repeated requests as highly disrespectful to the body working for public welfare.
Government must welcome the peaceful approach of talks to bring about an amicable solution offered by the IPSA as it is against organising mass agitation with other CSOs during the current Covid-19 pandemic, it asserted.
IPSA maintained that Amarjit has committed no crime as he is just an admin of a Facebook page which reported about destruction caused to the Yek-Salai flags hoisted by pilgrims and uprooting of saplings planted by various CSOs at the sacred site of Koubru.
Stating that every Manipuri has the right to report any unwarranted activities atop Mt Koubru, IPSA caution that it other like-minded organisations will not remain silent if the office bearer continues to be detained by the police.
While reiterating its appeal to the government to release Amarjit without any condition at the earliest, IPSA also urged the government to evict illegal encroachers from Kanglatongbi Reserved Forest area, announce sacred site of Koubru as protected area under The Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1976 and take up suitable measures to protect its surrounding areas by involving all the communities of the state.