Apunba Lup to intensify stir, protests galore
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 07 2009: Decrying the continued imposition of curfew, instead of respecting the public demand for resignation of the Chief Minister on moral ground, punishment of the police commandos involved in the July 23 fake encounter at Khwairamband Bazar and unconditional release of its arrested members, the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup has announced further course of agitation to be launched.

In a statement, the Apunba Lup announced that in defiance of the curfew, a mass sit-in-protest demonstration would be staged all over the State tomorrow and the following day.

Effigies of the Chief Minister and police officials being readied to be put to flames

To be staged under the banner of 'Resign Chief Minister on moral ground, award befitting punishment to the guilty police commandos and higher officers who tried to cover up the facts and release arrested members unconditionally', the Apunba Lup has appealed to all the people to come and demonstrate in defiance of the curfew in every locality.

If the demands are not considered by August 9, a mass protest rally would be organised on August 10 at 11 am and a memorandum will be submitted to the Governor, the Apunba Lup said, while appealing to the people to join the protest rally to be taken out from different parts of the State.

Terming the action of the police commandos on the protestors as acts of cowardice, the Apunba Lup said there is no reason why the public should not dub the Chief Minister as the head of terror agents in the State now.

The Apunba Lup has also strongly condemned the excesses committed by police commandos on one Naoribam Prakash last night at Langthabal.

Protests continue, effigies burnt : Even though the five hour curfew relaxation period in the morning remained by and large peaceful, protest demonstrations resumed as the day progressed with protestors setting ablaze effigies of the Chief Minister and top police officials including the DGP and SSP of Imphal West today at Tera and at other places.

At least one male agitator has been injured in police action today.

While protest demonstrations ensued from late in the morning, one injury has been reported from North AOC area where a commando team used mock and stun bombs.

Talking to some newspersons at a JN Hospital bed this evening, a 49-year man identified as old Deva Bahadur Thapa of Zomi Villa (North AOC) said he was resting near his house when a commando team, without any provocation, started to hurl mock and stun bombs that caused injury to his left shin area.

At around 11 am, police personnel resorted to bursting tear gas shells at Tera Loukrakpam Leikai to disperse agitators.

In the course of the police action at Tera, a local shop-keeper identified as Salam Mahesh has been taken into custody.

later in the day, police personnel barricaded Kakwa section of the Imphal-Moreh route as Singjamei womenfolk spearheaded a protest rally seemingly aimed at storming Singjamei police station, Kakwa.

Effigies were also burnt along the Mayai Lambi at Mongsangei.

Demand for resignation of the CM and burning of effigies also marked similar demonstration staged at the border town of Moreh today.

Meanwhile, joining the protest against the July 23 fake encounter at Khwairamband Bazar, a Wakat Meepham was staged at Mayai Lambi Thongkhong Lakshmi Bazar today.

Around 200 womenfolk participated in the protest demonstration organised jointly by 13 different Self Help Groups operating under the Federation of 9 Women Self Help Groups and Mangal Women Self Help Group, Yumnam Huidrom.

At Sagoltongba Lansonbi Bazar of Awang Khunou, a torch rally was reportedly taken out in the evening in protest of the July 23 incident.

Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the rallyists.

Our Jiribam correspondent adds: A massive torch rally organised jointly by Jiri Ima Meira Paibi Apunba Lup and Apunba Jiri Meira Paibi was carried out today denouncing the BT Road incident of July 23 .

Flagging off simultaneously from two places namely Ningthembam and Gularthol, the rallyists converged at Babupara near Irabot statue.

Around 500 Meira Paibis participated in the torch rally.