Bailed Kangleipal rearrested under NSA
Protests galore, effigies of CM, DG burnt, MAFYF calls general strike
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 13: High drama marked the day when MAFYF president Sapamcha Kangleipal was produced before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, freed on a bail of Rs 40,000 only to be re-arrested under the National Security Act.

Reacting strongly against the arrest of Kangleipal, MAFYF has imposed a general strike from midnight of May 13 till midnight of May 14 .

Earlier in the day high drama was witnessed at the Court complex of the CJM as a large number of MAFYF volunteers and women folk descended on the complex and waited for Kangleipal to brought there.

Women cops block protestors, police lift a woman from the road and effigies of CM, DG being burnt

However a strong police posse, led by OC of Imphal police RK Khomdon and women police managed to drive the women and volunteers outside the Court complex.

A little after 1 pm, Kangleipal was brought to Court complex in a bullet proof Gypsy.

Conducting the business for the day, CJM Padmeshore asked the State on what charges Kangleipal was arrested.

The response of the State that Kangleipal was held under the Seditious Act for comments reported in the newspaper did not go down particularly well with the CJM who questioned whether there is any evidence to ascribe the statement to Kangleipal.

The State responded that they can produce video clippings but this was turned down on the ground that the MAFYF leader was held on the basis of a report which appeared in a news paper and not on the basis of video clippings.

With the State failing to produce substantial evidences, the Court released Kangleipal on a bail of Rs 40,000.However a few moments after Kangleipal was released, he taken into custody again and booked under the National Security Act.

The police were armed with an order issued by the District Magistrate of Imphal West, which stated that Kangleipal be detained under section 3 (2) of National Security Act.

The DM in his order said that his office is satisfied with the police report that Kangleipal's activities are prejudicial to the maintenance of public order under Section 3 (2) of the NSA, 1980.Following the re-arrest of Kangleipal, the women folk and MAFYF volunteers who had gathered outside the Court premise tried to stop the police vehicles by lying on the ground.

Police however used a decoy and managed to take away Kangleipal in another vehicle.

With the women folk and MAFYF volunteers raising their pitch, the police drove them back towards Waheng Leikai.

Meanwhile strongly condemning the detention of Kangleipal under the NSA, MAFYF has imposed a 24 hour Statewide general strike from midnight of May 13 till midnight of May 14.Effigies of the Chief Minister and the DGP were also consigned to the flames to mark their protest.

Talking to newsmen, general secretary of MAFYF Ksh Premjit said that if Kangleipal is not released without any conditions, then they would be constrained to launch a series of intense agitation.

Arresting someone under the NSA after being granted bail by a Court amounts to challenging the people, he asserted and added that the Government is inviting trouble.

Premjit acknowledged the suffering to be caused to the people due to the strike, but added that this has been necessitated by the action of the Government.

He also appealed to the transporters to extend their co-operation as well as to shut down all educational institutions.

The general strike called by MAFYF is being supported by UPF, NIPCO, AMSU, AMKIL, Nupi Samaj, Tammi-Chingmi, UPACO, Thoubal District United Women's Organisation, ANUL Bishnupur and Women's Development Organisation.

To register their protest the effigies of the Chief Minister and the DGP were burnt at the DM College gate today evening.