Attempt to storm House foiled
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 20 2012: Incensed film actors and artistes today staged a protest demonstration demanding justice for the humiliating treatment meted out to one of their colleagues during a musical concert at Chandel by NSCN-IM's S/S Lt Col Livingstone.

However, their attempt to storm the Legislative Assembly was foiled by police.

Meanwhile, actors and artistes have strongly condemned Speaker Th Lokeshore's statement given on the floor of the House that the assault on three artistes lacked evidence.

Under the captaincy of Film Forum Manipur, actors made an attempt to storm the Assembly in a bid to highlight their demand for justice and punishment of the culprit(s) involved in molesting an actor and physically assaulting two others.

At about 11 am, a large number of film actors and artistes assembled at THAU ground.

Holding placards embossed with phrases which condemned the bestial crime in the strongest term, the aggrieved actors marched out towards Assembly complex.

But they were blocked by police and thus their plan was thwarted.

Yet, the stand-off between the actors and police went on till 2 pm.

Later, the actors and artistes staged a sit-in-protest blocking a portion of the road in front of THAU ground.

The protesters shouted slogans in condemnation of the Speaker's remark.

The actors also narrated their side of the story to the MLA.

Notably, film actress Momoco was not only molested but was also kicked and assaulted severely in the green room of a musical concert held at Maha Union ground, Chandel district headquarters on December 18 by NSCN-IM's S/S Lt Col Livingstone Anal.

When co-actor Guna intervened, Livingstone fired at the former.

Livingstone again fired at another round at another artiste.

Fortunately, both the shots missed their targets.

Later in the evening, a public meeting was held at THAU ground where five resolutions were adopted, the foremost being staging a mass protest demonstration together with members of civil society organisations at Keishampat tomorrow.

In case the culprit is not booked by tomorrow, more intense forms of agitation would be launched during which all entertainment programmes would remain suspended.

This was another resolution of the meeting.

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