Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 20:
Amidst the cries of pain and grief at RIMS Hospital, a number of youths and students turned up to donate blood for those injured in today's firing incident.
The donors included former MSF president M Subhaschandra, general secretary of Imphal West district H Rohen, AMSU member of Imphal East Thangjam Nanao, AMSU Imphal West joint secretary Prem Paonam, Chungkham Lakhichand a class X student of Standard HS.
Around 3000 students who were left stranded following the sudden imposition of curfew were given shelter at Khwai Brahmapur Nagamapal.
Later they were transported to their respective places by the State police force and teachers.
RIMS Superintendent Dr AD Singh told this reporter that a number of senior doctors and nurses were engaged in treating the injured students and others according the guidelines laid down in the Disaster Management Plan.
MU Vice Chancellor Prof H Tombi also rushed to RIMS to check the injured students.
Meanwhile condemnations over today's incident have come from different quarters.
BJP leader RK Dorendra in a release faxed from Delhi expressed his anguish and pain over today's incident and said it could have been avoided if only the State administration had handled the situation carefully and tactfully.
On immediate receipt of information of the incident, Dorendra rushed and met the Union MoS for Home ID Swami and apprised him of the matter and urged to have the truce extension withdrawn to avoid further loss of lives.
Dorendra, Holkhomang Haokip and C Doungel later met former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma and sought his party's support to the movement for withdrawal of the cease fire.
The United Committee, Manipur has also come out very strongly against the excesses of the security forces and said there is absolutely no justification in exploding tear gas shells and using rubber bullets at the young students who were trying to surrender their text books to the Governor in a peaceful and democratic manner.
In a statement UCM said the action of the State administration is against all democratic norms and ethos.
The Committee Against Cease Fire Extension, Uripok has also strongly condemned today's incident.
The Committee said people were already incensed with the failure to check the rally from Nagaland to Senapati and the subsequent meeting and today's incident has further antagonized the people.
It said that the DC Senapati and the Divisional Commissioner concerned should be pulled up for failing the foil the rally and the meeting.
Allowing the rally and meeting and on the other hand cracking down on the students exposes the double standards of the State administration.
The Kanglei Meirik Khomba Naharol, Oinam has also strongly condemned the excesses of the security forces and said it is akin to the Jalianwalla Bagh tragedy.
The All Manipur Medical Students' Association has also condemned the CRPF for threatening to open fire at their ambulance.