Protestors caned
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 04 2012:
Police resorted to baton charge and bursting of mock bombs at Sanjenthong area to disperse protestors who tried to submit memoranda to the Governor and Chief Minister in connection with the rape of a school girl by a police commando personnel (driver) and his singer friend.
The incident took place today after the rallyists, comprising of student activists and members of civil society organisations, who had started from Palace Compound arrived at Sanjenthong (bridge) .
With Imphal East district police personnel barricading the way and asking the protestors to turn back failing to convince the protestors, heated exchange of words ensued consequently leading to a brief scuffle.
As persuasive tactics by the police proved futile they started to baton charge and fire mock bombs at the slogan shouting protestors.
However, after the situation was put under control the police allowed some representatives to proceed the hand over the memorandum.
The memorandum highlighting the alleged rape of the school at a restaurant on October 20, demanded that process of charge-sheeting the accused duo - commando driver Yumnam William s/o Y Deben of Khagempali Pankha and Thongam Tarun s/o Th Jayenta of Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai, be expedited.
Setting December 15 as the deadline for completing/submitting charge-sheet to the court of low, it also demanded that whereabouts of the accused persons be made public.
Further stating that the culprits be punished according to law at the earliest, the memorandum also cautioned that failure to take positive action, civil society organisations would launch intense agitation.
It also conveyed to the Governor and CM that father of one of the accused persons tried to settle the issue by offering Rs 25 lakhs, besides pointing out that this year alone more than 23 cases of rape had occurred in the State.
The protest rally was jointly organised by universal Mothers' Organisation, Joint Action Committee, student organisations and NGOs.