Imphal, July 31: Stepping up the ongoing movement for revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 from Manipur and in consonance with the decision arrived at the public meeting held on July 29 at Khuman Lampak, mass court arrest agitation were launched at different parts of the State from today.

Notwithstanding stringent security measures, student activists of Manipur University Students� Union launched the agitation in front of the gate of Chief Minister�s Bungalow at around 2.30 pm today.

Around 27 of them including girl students came in a jeep and as soon as the vehicle veered near the gate of the Chief Minister�s bungalow at Babupara, the agitating students alighted carrying festoons and banners inscripted �Removed Armed Forces Special Powers Act� and �Court Arrest Us�.

They carried out their demonstration in a very democratic manner.

None of them shouted any slogans and each one of them has a picture of either Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of peace, or Jananeta Hijam Irabot pinned on their chests.

On seeing the silent student protestors advancing towards the gate of the CM�s bungalow, security personnel who were posted nearby acted swiftly and stopped the protestors from advancing further.

For a change there was no exchange of any heated argument nor trigger happy and baton wielding police personnel using force to disperse the adamant students who refused to budge from the very spot they were halted.

In the meantime, a Gypsy vehicle of the police came along and picked up the student protestors and drove some of them off to Imphal Police Station located nearby.

Those who could not be accommodated in the Gypsy were escorted by police personnel on foot till the police station.

Afterwards, two students, who identified them- selves as members of MUSU also volunteered to be arrested and went inside the police station, thereby increasing the number of student activists arrested to 29.MUSU activists were, however, set free later in the evening.

In a statement, MUSU announced its decision of carrying forward the stir till the demands of the people are met.

Volunteers of People Action Committee against brutal custodial killing of Thangjam Manorama along with womenfolk of Bamon Kampu area also launched court arrest agitation at Irilbung Police Station at about 7.45 am today.

Some 50 of them dared the police personnel to arrest them and shouting slogans demanding lifting of AFSPA from Manipur and punishment of Manorama�s killers.

SDPO Manimohan and his personnel came out on hearing the commotion and court arrested all the agitators.

At least 200 activists belonging to 32 different social organizations were also court arrested by the police on alleged charge of violating restriction imposed under Cr PC at Kwakeithel Bazar at around 11.30 am today.

The slogan shouting agitators were proceeding towards Kwakeithel Bazar from near AMUCO office when SP and Additional SP of Imphal West District Police along with CO of Ist IRB arrived and stopped them.

All of them were boarded in two passenger buses and later taken to the police station.

14 representatives of UCM, Khalam Chingtam unit, AMSU, DESAM and Langmeidong Meira paibi also launched a court arrest agitation at Waikhong police station at about 11 am today.

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