Imphal, April 08 2010: Workers of CPI today launched 'Jail bharo' agitations at five different places in five districts of the state to protest against price hike of all essential commodities even as CPI (M) workers staged a sit-in protest at Sangaiporou FCI godown complex on the same issue.

The agitations of the two Left parties in the state were part of the nationwide 'jail bharo' agitation earlier announced demanding for strict implementation of Public Distribution System (PDS) to contain the prices of essential commodities like rice, wheat and edible oil.

They also demanded job for all and land title deeds for landless poor.

MLAs and leaders of CPI led the agitations that were carried out in five districts of the state, Imphal east, Imphal west, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Churachandpur districts simultaneously at around noon.

Police used water cannon and used mob dispersion ammunitions in foiling the agitators at Lamlong Bazar in Imphal east district led by state assistant secretary of CPI Manipur State Council, L Sotinkumar marching towards the DC office.

Around 100 of them who refused to move away despite police action were picked up by the police and transported them upto Tinsid in three trucks and released there.

The rally of the protestors shouting slogans demanding control of the prices of essential commodities, jobs for all, stop violent against West Bengal government started from Laikhutlembi Lampak and proceeds toward the DC, Imphal east office were blocked by the police at Lamlong Bazar.

Police picked up three loads of tata trucks protestors and asked remaining protestors to leave the place which they refused resulting to police used of tear gas to quell them out.

No severe casualty reported in the police dispersion act.

While at the DC office of Imphal West, agitators led by CPI MLA, H Borajao and state secretary Langol Iboyaima were kept confined by the police near the DC office complex till 3 pm and later released them.

The agitation in Thoubal district was led by MLA, Dr U Deben and former minister, Dr M Nara.

The protest rally originated from Khangabok area was blocked by the police before reaching the Thoubal DC office.

The in Bishnupur district was led by MLA, N Mangi and the rally to be kicked off from Ningthoukhong was prevented by the police before start and allowed them to hold meeting at the same place.

In Churachandpur district, the protest rally was carried out without any interference from the police from Public Ground and returned to the same place where a public meeting was held.

District secretary of CPI, Churachandpur district and many other leaders from Imphal talked on the issue of price hike of essential commodities and government failure to deal effectively.

The Congress led UPA government at the Centre was preaching food security and planned to enact a Food Security Act, was not in the interest of general people but actually practicing "food insecurity" by slashing subsidy on food grains supplied through PDS and on fertilizers, State Secretary, Langol Iboyaima said speaking at the protest site at Imphal West DC office at Lamphel.

Hiking in excise duties on petroleum products had led to an overall price rise, he said, adding this led to the hiking of the price of food grains to be supplied to people above poverty line.

"No one is going to benefit by Food Security Act," Iboyaima claimed.

L Shotinkumar, who led the agitaition in Imphal east district, criticized the UPA government at the centre for not taking up appropriate measures to control the price rise issue facing in the country.

The new economy policy of the government resulted in amassing wealth by the capitalists.

Privatization policy has hurt the poor section of the society, he lamented.

It is the bounden duty of the party to raise voice against the anti-people policy which would hard the poor section of the society, he said demanding implementation of food security act in the state and food security for the people, he added.

Leaders and workers of CPI(M) Manipur State Council separately staged a sit-in protest at FCI godown complex at Sangaiporou Imphal as part of the nationwide agitation.

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