Imphal, August 01: State security personnel resorted to firing tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse about 500 protestors who had gathered to organize a mass court arrest agitation at Khurai Lamlong Bazar this morning.

According to reports, the incident occurred when a large crowd which had gathered at Lainingthou Ahanba Mandap at Lamlong Bazar forced through the security cordon at Lamlong Bazar and moved towards Porompat JN Hospital road at around 12.30 pm shouting slogans like "Lift AFSPA from the State", "Go back Indian army", "Punish Manorama's killer" etc.

The protestors were stopped near the residence of Wangkhei AC MLA Y Erabot by a large police team led by Imphal East Addl SP who asked the protestors to turn back as CrPc 144 was still being imposed in the area.

However, the protestors refused to turn back thereby forcing the police personnel to fire tear gas shells and rubber bullets.

According to information provided by JN Hospital Relief Committee, 15 persons have been admitted at JN Hospital for injuries sustained during the stand off with the security personnel.

Meanwhile, protestors numbering about 90 who had come to protest against the killing of Manorama and demand revocation of AFSPA from the State were also arrested from the Naoremthong area this afternoon by the security forces.

The arrested persons were herded into two buses belonging to the IRB and taken towards Wangoi PS.

They were later set free at Wangoi at around 4 pm.

In another incident, Manipur University students who had come to launch a court arrest agitation in front of the Chief Minister's bungalow were stopped and arrested by the State security personnel at Singjamei Bazar this evening at around 4.30.The MU students who came on a canter numbered about 30 and carried banners and festoons reading "Remove AFSPA", "Enough is enough", "Arrest us" etc.

Members of the Bharatiya Janta Party Kakching dist also organized a dharna at Kakching Bazar today demanding the immediate removal of AFSPA from the State immediately.

Senior citizens chip in with Voice of the God slogan : Asserting that voice of the people is the voice of God itself in a democratic country, Senior Citizens for Society, Manipur has asked the State Government to take up initiative for restoring peace and harmony in the State by conceding to the people of the people for revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act and punishment of guilty 17 AR personnel involved in custodial killing of Th Manorama.

In a statement, convenor of the Senior Citizens for Society RV Mingthing advised the Chief Minister to keep his words with regard to revocation of the repressive Act within the stipulated deadline of August 15.If possible, the Chief Minister should take up steps to lift the Act according to the wishes of the people before the deadline set so that peace and harmony could be restored, he added.

He also appealed to the agitators not to target public properties during the course of the agitation.

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