Police crack down on students draws flak
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 25 2014 : Different civil society organisations have condemned police excesses meted out to the students, who tried to storm the State Legis-lative Assembly demanding implementation of Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) in the State.

Taking serious note of the police action, United Committee Manipur (UCM) in a press statement said that students' agitations staged from July 21 to 24 under the aegis of Joint Inner Line Permit System Student's Wing (JCILPSSW) were democratic.

However, police not only chased the agitating students up to their college campus but also fired tear gas canisters on them, kicked and thrashed them mercilessly.

UCM said that the demand for ILPS implementation is not meant to harass non-locals but allow their entry into the State under a proper guideline.

The situation is getting aggravated with students intensifying their agitation only because the Government has failed to do the needful on the issue in time, the press statement said.

At this critical juncture, instead of taking a stand on the issue of ILPS, 60 MLAs were busy deliberating the remark of Babloo Loitongbam in the State Assembly, it added.

Saying that closure of educational institutes would not serve any purpose, UCM de-manded the MLAs to take a concrete stand on the issue at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Protection and Preservation Committee, Ma-nipur (PPCM) has also strongly condemned merciless thrashing of students who tried to storm the State Legislative Assembly pressing the demand for implemen- tation of Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) in the State yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference held at Manipur Press Club, PPCM convenor Elang-bam Johnson said that the students' agitation being spearheaded by Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System Student's Wing (JCILPSSW) is democratic and legitimate.

However, police yesterday brutally beat up the students without showing any mercy, he said.

Maintaining that it was appalling to see that police were flexing muscles on innocent students, the convenor demanded action against the involved police personnel.

Questioning why ILPS is not yet implemented although it had already been passed by the State Legislative Assembly, Johnson said that yesterday's agitation was a fallout of Government's stoic silence on the issue.

The situation would be worsened if the Government fails to spell out its stand on the issue at the earliest, he cautioned.

Regarding Babloo Loitongbam's 'mithibong meetambal' remark, Johnson said that instead of discussing the matter in the House and referring it to the Assembly Privilege Committee, the Speaker could have warned Babloo not to make scornful remarks against MLAs.

PPCM member M Churamani said that parents and guardians might be shocked to see their children being mercilessly beaten up by police for pressing a legitimate demand.

He also urged the police not to indulge in such excesses in future.

Decrying police action, PPCM member Dr Y Mani Khuman said that the students' uprising was justifiable as the State Assembly had already given its unanimous nod to implement ILPS in the State.

Saying that democracy means 'For the people by the people', Mani Khuman said that democracy is seemingly meaningless in Manipur.

PPCM member Sunil Karam said that it is natural to voice people's issue during Assembly session.

Condemning yesterday's police action, Sunil Karam said that police were flexing muscles on the innocent students as if they were their enemies.

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