Students take demand to implement ILPS in the State to the streets
Police fire tear gas shells to disperse students
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 19 2014: Police resorted to firing tear gas shells to subdue agitating students who attempted to storm the Raj Bhavan and Chief Minister's bungalow today demanding immediate implementation of Inner Line Permit System in the State.

A large number of students under the auspices of JCILPS Students' Wing marched towards the Raj Bhavan from Keishampat side raising slogans demanding the implementation of ILPS in the State today around 11am.Police tried to stop the marching students near Raj Bhavan.

Notwithstanding the resistance put up by the police personnel, the students braved their way forward.

Police also tried to snatch the festoons held by the agitating students.

Police confronting the agitating students near Raj Bhavan and inset the ransacked office of DESAM

In the confrontation, many of the students were knocked down at the roadside.

Still many students holding festoons continued their agitation in front of the Raj Bhavan gate.

Later, the students tried to march towards the Chief Minister's bungalow.

But they were however stopped in front of Nupi Lan complex and driven back towards the side of Keishampat.

Faced by a strong posse of policemen, the students started pelting stones at the cops.

Police diverted all vehicular movement heading towards the agitation site in order to avoid untoward incident.

Undeterred the students then started raining stones on the policemen with slingshots from Keishampat junction near the traffic point.

Many private vehicles plying along the roads during the course of the agitation were damaged.

Police fired tear gas shells and lathi-charged the agitating students in their attempt to contain the situation.

Furious students later pulled down and burned the festoons and flags of the Sangai festival put up along Tiddim road.

The the cops chased the students through the roads and footpaths of the localities.

During the course of the police-students confrontation, Tiddim road and Mayai Lambi were blocked by the agitating students by burning tyres along the road.

However, normal traffic resumed along the roads after the agitation was put under control around 2 pm.

Later addressing media persons somewhere in Imphal West district, Angamba, convener of JCILPS Students Wing said that the the students were compelled to launch the agitation as the State Government has failed to implement ILPS in the State within the deadline given.

The JCILPS Students' Wing had given a deadline to the State Government and the Committee formed by the all political parties to complete drafting a Bill similar to the ILPS to safeguard the indigenous people from the influx of migrants before October 31 and to implement the same before November 18 .

Angamba also said that the confrontation between the police and agitating students ensued after the police lathi-charged the students.

Pointing out that some students were detained by the police in the course of the agitation, Angamba demanded that the students be released immediately.

The Students' Wing of JCILPS also strongly condemned the alleged police action in ransacking the office of DESAM during the course of the agitation today.

He also rued that Additional SP Yengkhom Victoria has been assigned Additional SP Prosecution Imphal West despite the vociferous demand for her suspension.

Angamba further said that the demand for her suspension would be continued until the demand is met.