Oppn flays police for excesses
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal, July 10 2015 : Chief Minister O Ibobi said that his Government does not want to impose indefinite curfew for long and that it will try to relax it periodically after discussing with the Council of Ministers.

He stated this on Friday during the discussion on passing of the Manipur Appropriation Bill 2015 in the House.

Meanwhile, the Government has decided to relax the curfew currently imposed in Greater Imphal area for five hours tomorrow, Saturday�from 5 am to 10 am.

The indefinite curfew was clamped in Imphal East and Imphal West since 4 pm of July 8 after the JILPS spearheaded ILP protest turned violent and a Class XI student of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School, Sapam Robinhood was killed in police action.

During the discussion, Opposition MLAs L Ibomcha, Dr I Ibohalbi and Th Shyamkumar appealed to all ministers to work in the interest of the State by completing projects and submitting UCs in time.

With this, the Appropriation Bill was passed.

On the other hand, the MLAs criticised the State security forces for not knowing properly when to use water cannons and barricades and when to use rubber bullets and tear gas shells while controlling agitation and crowds.

They also condemned the way in which the State Police solely rely on rubber bullets and tear gas shells instead of using milder barricades and water cannons.

The MLAs specifically condemned the act of one 'non-Manipuri' IPS officer who fired several round from his service revolver on Thursday while trying to disperse protestors and alleged that his act seemed 'intentional' .

Action must be taken up against the police officer, they demanded.

The Opposition MLAs also enquired the identity of the policed personnel who killed Sapam Robinhood during ILP protest on July 8 and to identify all Government officials who were on duty at the time of the incident.

They demanded the Government to find out the facts at the earliest and take action against them accordingly.

The MLAs also pressurised the Government to hold talks with the leaders of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) and to bring a permanent solution to the issue very soon.

Giving clarifying statements to the pleas and demands of the MLAs, CM Ibobi said, "The incident in which one IPS officer allegedly used his service revolver against protesters will be investigated and action will be taken up against him.

He also said investigation will also be conducted into the death of Robinhood.

Ibobi said there's no problem in re-discussion of the Manipur Regulation Visitors Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill 2015 (MRVT & MW Bill) as it is not favoured by the people.

The Chief Minister also invited JCILPS to come to the negotiating table to hold talks with the Government anytime to discuss and find out every possibility.

Ibobi said, "As the Bill has been reserved for consideration of the President of India, making amendments will not be possible now.

So, it can be withdrawn and replaced by a new Bill" .

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