Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 26 2010:
Security in the state Assembly today detained four workers of MPP Youth Front after they disrupted proceeding of the Assembly by shouting slogans demanding roll back of essential commodities in the visitors' gallery.
The disruption occurred when the pre-lunch session of the Assembly was about to conclude.
Among the four workers of MPP Youth Front detained by the security in the Assembly complex, one is a woman.
The woman worker identified as Wakangbam Premila (34), wife of Milanjit of Laipham Khunou, is the organisation secretary of Imphal East MPP Youth Front.
The other workers were joint secretary of MPP Youth Front, Wahengbam Bhubon (38), son of Bupeneshwor of Lilong Arapti Mayai Leikai, executive members, Yengkhom Nabachandra (43), son of Ibotombi of Khanarok Awang Leikai and Konsam Deveshwor (27), son of Tomcha of Nambol Kongkham Leikai.
On verification by the security personnel, it was found that the visitor passes of Nabachandra and Deveshwor were issued by the Assembly authority on the recommendation of the Independent MLA K Raina, for Bhubon through Wungnaoshung Keishing and for Premila through MLA M Thorii.
The normal proceeding of the House was not disturbed when the four persons shouted slogans as it was the last minute of the pre-lunch session of the day.
At about 1.10 pm when the House was about to adjourn for lunch break, the four MPP workers stood up in the visitors' gallery and shouted slogans decrying government failure to control the soaring prices of the essential commodities and non-availability of the same.
MLA N Mangi of ruling CPI was in the chair of the Speaker, and was conducting the proceedings when the shouting occurred.
At the time, he was about to adjourn the House for lunch break after the opposition member Dr I Ibohalbi of MPP gave his observation on a cut motion moved by the opposition while discussing the demands for grant of seven departments.
The House was discussing demand for grant of Agriculture, Public Health Engineering Department, Fisheries, Irrigation and Flood Control, Social Welfare, Relief and Disaster Management and Economic and Statistics Department.
They shouted various slogans demanding control of prices of essential commodities, to make rice, petroleum products, cooking gas and other daily needs available.
Security personnel of the Assembly in the House rushed to the visitors' gallery on hearing the shouting, and dragged them out of the visitors' gallery.
The four were among five who entered the House for the purpose.
The other one went out of the Assembly before the security personnel could detect him.
It is pertinent to mention here that on the same issue of price hike and scarcity of essential commodities in the state owing to uncertainty on the national highways, workers of MPP had also tried to storm the Assembly complex last weekend.
In that five leaders of the party, including its president, Dr Nimaichand Luwang, were detained by the police and also injured to four workers taking part in the protest when police resorted in firing tear gas and smoke bombs.