Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 29:
Eighteen persons, including six women who were booked under the National Security Act during the agitation for the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act will be set free as per a Govt order issued today.
On the other hand a ten member representative of the Apunba Lup are likely to leave for Delhi on October 31 to meet the Prime Minister.
Separate orders were issued by the Government today to release the agitators booked under the NSA.
The NSA Advisory Board had earlier proposed that the 18 persons be released.
During the course of the agitation against the imposition of AFSPA, the police had rounded up 46 agitators under the NSA and jailed them.
Of these 27 were released earlier.
With the Govt today ordering the release of 18 persons, now only one is detained under the NSA.
The Govt has also taken up the necessary procedures to release the lone detainee too.
Other than the 46 booked under the NSA, there are 18 more persons who have been remanded to judicial custody.
Steps have been taken up to free them at the soonest possible time, said sources.
The decision to release the 18 persons was taken to pave the way for the proposed talk between leaders of the Apunba Lup and the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile leaders of the Apunba Lup are set to leave for Delhi to meet the Prime Minister.
Representatives of the Lup met Governor SS Sidhu today and held minute talks for about an hour in connection with the proposed talk with the Prime Minister.
The Lup representatives also gave a written intimation to the Governor that they are ready to hold a talk with the Centre.
The list of the representatives of the Apunba Lup, who will go to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister, is likely to be submitted to the Governor tomorrow, said sources.