MPP calls for 15-hr bandh
Four hurt in police action to foil MPP's attempt to storm Assembly
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 19 2010: Police today detained five leaders of MPP even as four workers were injured when police fired tear gas shells and used smoke bombs on the crowded BT road to disperse hundreds of the MPP leaders and workers taking out a protest rally against price rise and short supply of essential commodities towards the Assembly complex when the session was in progress.

A 15-hour statewide bandh has been called for by the MPP decrying the police action against the demonstrators and criticizing that the Congress-led Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government has failed in all respect.

The bandh which commences from midnight (between July 19 and 20) will end by 3 pm tomorrow, a statement of the party announced.

MPP president Dr Nimaichand Luwang, VP Dr S Dhananjoy and other leaders being blocked by police; five leaders were arrested but released later at night

The Manipur People's Party (MPP) organised the protest demonstration against the government's failure to bring down the prices of the essential commodities, and its inability to resume normal flow of essential commodities in the state even after one month had passed since the lifting of the economic blockade imposed by the ANSAM on the national highways.

Hundreds of workers of the party took part in the protest rally which was proceeded towards the Assembly complex on the BT road by shouting slogans against the government failure to deal effectively with price hike in the state.

Police blocked them at the by-lane leading to the Assembly complex by firing tear gas and hurling mob bombs.

The police action has disturbed the normal marketing at Khwairamband Bazar (women market).

People run hither and thither fearing that bomb blast took place in the market area on hearing the firing sounds of tear gas and explosion of smoke bombs.

Many shops and other establishments closed down at the moment.

However, the situation was returned to normalcy after police rounded up the leaders and controls the demonstration.

Police rounded up five leaders of the party including its president Dr Nimaichand Luwang, former Speaker of the Manipur Assembly, Dr Sapam Dhananjoy, who is also the vice president of the party, former MLA, N Natum Singh and president of Youth Front of the party, Maniton.

They were later released at around 7.15 pm from the police custody without any condition.

Before arresting by the police, MPP president Dr Nimaichand Luwang criticized the congress led SPF government in the state for not taking seriously on the issue of hiking prices and shortage of essential commodities even after one month pass since the lifting of the ANSAM sponsored economic blockade on June 18 .

Government is failed to ensure supply of essential commodities and regular flow of essential commodities on the national highways passing through the state, he strongly charged.

Terming the protest rally was marched peacefully without any violent attitude and decrying the act of the police, the party has called a 15-hour statewide bandh effective from midnight of July 19 and 20 to 3 pm of tomorrow.

A statement signed by the party general secretary N Sanajaoba while announcing the bandh also charged the police of acting excessively to the protestors using faulty language.

It also claimed injuring to four workers of the party in the police action.

They were Moirangthem Jillagamba of Taretkhun Mamang Leikai, Huidrom Ingocha of Seijang Awang Leikai, Laitonjam Nilamani of Samukhok and Thongam Bala of Kakwa Khongnang Pheithekpi.