Free Sotinkumar sans conditions cry raised
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 22 2019: Demanding the immediate and unconditional release of CPI Manipur State Council (CPI-MSC) secretary L Sotinkumar, from the custody of Nambol police, CPI National Executive Member Dr M Nara has conveyed that Sotinkumar is not a criminal and the State Government should immediately stop such antics at the earliest.

L Sotinkumar who was freed on a PR bond of Rs 80 thousand by the JMIC, Imphal West yesterday was rearrested by a team of Nambol police today.

Sources said that the CPI leader was produced before the Duty Magistrate of Bishnupur today with a prayer for remanding him to further custody for investigating the case against him.

Sotinkumar was picked up one day after the general strike against the CAA on December 20 .

Free Sotinkumar sans conditions cry raised

As Sotinkumar is a diabetic and developed high pressure, he has been taken to the security ward at JNIMS said sources.

Speaking to media persons at Irawat Bhawan, Dr M Nara said that Left Parties called a Nationwide protest on December 19 and the same was observed in the State as well.

However, on that day, police arrested numerous members of Left Parties from different districts, including Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Bishnupur, Nara said explaining that CPI MSC secretary L Sotinkumar was returning home after performing the necessary paperworks for the arrested members on December 20, when he was arrested by Imphal West district police.

Nara continued that Sotinkumar was later released by the Court but Bishnupur police again arrested him from the Lamphel Court complex and he is currently in custody of Nambol PS.

Demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Sotinkumar, Dr M Nara expressed disappointment at the action of the State Government which seems to be based on revenge.

He clarified that the December 19 protest observation was neither violent nor destructive and explained that CPI welcomes the extension of Inner Line Permit System in Manipur and the State's exclusion from the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAA).

Alleging that the antics of the Government is similar to threatening those who try to voice their concern or opinion with arrests and detention, Nara reminded that during an event at Namdunlong yesterday, the Chief Minister himself had made a statement about forgiving and forgetting.

As such, he said that December 19 and the Nationwide protest are already past and asked if it is not right for the State Government to exercise some restraint and take a sane decision instead of trying to nitpick every small criticisms and statements and take drastic actions.

On the other hand, the All India Trade Union Congress, Manipur State Committee, has also demanded the unconditional and immediate release of CPI MSC secretary L Sotinkumar.