Irked over police high-handedness, CPI presses for designated sites for protests
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 30 2013: Taking serious note over the excesses being committed by State police forces against anyone dare to launch protest in the State, Communist Party of India (CPI), Manipur State Council demanded the State Government to provide or designate certain areas where the people can take out protest rallies or stage sit-in-protest demonstrations.

In connection with this demand, a memorandum was submitted to the Chief Minister yesterday.

CPI, Manipur State Unit has also enumerated various other demands in the same memorandum.

Addressing media persons in this regard at Irabot Bhawan here today, Dr M Nara, Secretary of CPI, Manipur State Unit informed that a delegation of the party submitted the memorandum to the Chief Minister yesterday and discussed various demands put forward by the party with the Chief Minister during the meeting.

Dr Nara said that the Chief Minister was apprised about the incident wherein State police resorted to firing tear gas shells during a protest rally organized by CPI, state unit recently.

(File photo) A frighten woman falls down in the melee of police action during a CPI rally

Taking serious note over such highhandedness of the State police, which is condemnable in the strongest term, the Chief Minister was also pressed for providing or designating certain areas where people can freely demonstrate sit-ins or carry out protest rallies, Dr Nara disclosed.

He also explained that other points highlighted in the memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister included demands for taking up action against the police personnel responsible for firing tear gas shells that led to injury of one CPI activist during the protest rally taken out on June 20; to repeal AFSPA and save the life of Irom Chanu Sharmila; to reintroduced Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the State for saving the indigenous people, to initiate political dialogues with the insurgent groups; to establish Highway Protection Force; to implement laws for prohibiting imposition of bandhs and blockades along NHs; to stop the propose privatization of Health and Power sector; to provide 35 kg of rice at Rs 2 every month in every household and to setup Special Fast Track Courts for dealing with cases of crimes against women.

N Mangi, Chairman, Struggle Committee of CPI, Manipur State Unit was also present during the press conference.