ILP Stir: Police-students engage in pitch-battle
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 24 2014: A massive protest staged by students from various institutes to demand implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the State took an ugly turn today with police and students engaging a pitch battle of pelting stones and firing tear gas shells in heart of the city itself.

Many students were also hurt in police action.

A large number of students from DM College of Science, Arts and Commerce tried to storm the Assembly Secretariat after from two directions.

One group came marching from the northern gate of DM College of Science while the other from the western gate of the college campus adjacent to THAU Ground.

Police actions against ILP student demonstrators

Already aware of the protest, large number of police personnel deployed near the Assembly Secretariat tried to stop the students from going ahead.

There, a heated confrontation broke out between the police and agitated students.

Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the students.

Some students were also slapped and kicked by the police in full public view.

Annoyed by police action, the agitated students pelted stones at the police and in retaliation, police fired more tear gas shells and mob control bombs indiscriminately towards them.

Unable to control the situation despite taking two hours of time, additional forces were called in.

After great effort, police managed to herd the agitated students inside the DM College campus and took into custody 50 of them.

On hearing the news that some of their fellows have been arrested by the police, another group of students rushed in from the southern side of the college and chased the police by pelting stones.

Police also retaliated by firing tear gas shells to disperse the students who were chasing them.

The situation turned murkier after a group of students blocked the road near Khoyathong ABC Godown by burning tyres and placing woods.

On the other hand, several students burnt effigies of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh near the northern gate of DM College.

A Honda Karizma bike belonging to 6 IRB parked nearby was also damaged by the students.

At last, the situation was brought under control after the additional police forces rushed in arrest all the enraged students one by one.

Of the many students who were hurt in the police action, six of them have been admitted to RIMS Hospital for treatment.

They are H Sindambi (MB College), L Nongpoknganbi (MB College), L Robindro (DM College of Commerce), Kh Datlian (DM College of Arts), RK Bindiya (DM College of Arts) and another student of DM College of Arts.