Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 23:
Even as the Apunba Lup has called a general strike on December 27 to protest the arrival of the panel set up to review the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which is deemed to be against the demand to repeal the said Act, two AMSU members including its general secretary were arrested by the police today for allegedly burning the effigies of the Prime Minister and Home Minister yesterday.
The general secretary of the student body is identified as Mayanglambam Chourjit Singh (27) of Laiphrakpam while the other member has been named as Sairem Bobo of Lamshangjbazar, a student of Liberal dollege.
Both are presently in the custody of City Police.
Moreover 19 members of different organisations including DESAM activists were also picked up but they were released later on PR bond today at about 4 pm.
Strongly condemning the arrest of the two student members of AMSU from the AMSU headquar-,ters, the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup today said that the action of the Government is nothing short of trying to muffle the genuine voice of the people, who have raised theft demands in a democratic manner.
The arrest of the students will not deter the people's movement said the statement and added since military might and the use of force cannot bring any solution, it is the responsibility of the political leaders to initiate a peaceful dialogue and come to a logical conclusion.
The statement further said that the Review Committee which is scheduled to arrive to gauge the opinion of the people is nothing but an attempt to sow the seeds of division, which the Government of India has been pursuing as a policy for ages.
The Lup questioned the rationale of inviting opinion from people with Government interest and added that this is nothing but an attempt to dilute the people's demand.