Imphal, August 21 2009: In defiance of the Government order prohibiting assembly of five or more persons, leaders and activists of the opposition Manipur People's Party (MPP) are set to take out a protest rally tomorrow in denunciation of the July 23 firing at BT Road in Khwairamband Bazar.

Apart from the protest rally being planned during the curfew relaxation period, the MPP protestors would attempt to submit a memorandum to the Governor Gurbachan Jagat demanding removal of Okram Ibobi Singh as the Chief Minister of manipur.

Decision to stage the rally and approach the Governor is informed to have been taken at a meeting of the MPP this afternoon which was presided by MPP president Dr Nimaichand Luwang.

Apart from party leaders and office bearers the proposed agitation programme would be joined by district/kendra unit presidents and former legislators of the regional political organisation, said a source.

Conveying that minute details of the agitation had been chalked out during the meeting, the source said concerning Imphal East district the protest would begin from near LMS Law College while it would be Yumnam Leikai Lairembi Lampak where protestors from Thoubal district side will assemble.

It is also said that MPP office would be the starting point for demonstrators from Imphal west and Bishnupur districts.

After the protest rally slated to commence simultaneously at 11 am of August 22 the Governor would be apprised to exercise his wisdom in redressing hurt sentiments of the Manipuris in the aftermath of the July 23 fake encounter staged by police commandos during which two persons, including a young pregnant woman, got killed besides injuries suffered by five other civilians.

The source also conveyed of the MPP president appealing to the general public to join the protest rally in defiance of the prohibitory order clamped in the twin capital district.

The MPP representation for submission to Governor Gurbachan Jagat is said to propose stringent punitive action against security force personnel involved in extra-judicial killings; re-assertion that Ch Sanjit was killed in fake encounter; demand removal of the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh; and dismissal of the SPF Government.

Comment